Alberta government should expand compassionate leave, expert says

The Alberta government should amend the province's labour code to allow for expanded workplace leave for those who must care for sick or dying family members, says the Edmonton author of a national study into the costs and challenges of caregiving.

Dr. Janet Fast, an economist and gerontologist at the University of Alberta, says additional supports for family caregivers are urgently needed to meet the demands of an aging population.

Fast's suggestion comes as an expansion to Ottawa's compassionate care program goes into effect Jan. 3. Employees of federally regulated workplaces — such as banks, Crown corporations, transportation and communication organizations — will be able to take leave for up to 26 weeks to care for sick or dying relatives.

But Fast said compassionate leave needs to be expanded at the provincial level as well, including the provincial public sector and private businesses.

"Families are getting smaller; they're more geographically dispersed," said Fast, noting family caregivers provide 10 times more care than the formal health and long-term care systems.

"More family members are employed, so the time available to provide care is less."

Carol Anne Kunicki of Edmonton admits the demands of looking after her 89-year-old mother have made it difficult for her to work and lead a normal life.

Caring for sick family member huge challenge

"I've being doing contract work, but that's been very challenging because of increased caregiving responsibilities," said Kunicki. "It's constant, it's constant, it's daily — it never ends."

Kunicki said she feels she owes it to her mother to give her a good quality of life in her later years.

Fast said governments don't appear to fully understand the need to encourage family care.

"Families are much more complex, and there are a lot more ambiguous relationships because of things like divorce and remarriage," Fast said.

"Without them, the health and continuing care system, the public system, would collapse. They simply could not provide the level of care that family members and friends have been providing."

Fast points out Alberta was the last province to grant compassionate leave that matched the initial federal government program of eight weeks. It remains to be seen how provinces will respond in the coming year, she said.

In a statement to CBC, Cheryl Oates, a spokeswoman for the province, said the Alberta government is pleased the federal government is expanding compassionate leave, and the province will consider it next year.  

Employees who take part in the leave program are eligible for employment insurance benefits and guaranteed they won't lose their jobs.