Family Caregiving Study

The British Columbia Law Institute and the Canadian Centre for Elder Law Studies are undertaking a study of law relating to caregiving of family members. According to the project summary,

This two year research project funded by the Law Foundation of BC will examine the current legal framework governing leave, accommodation and other entitlements available to employees and other working people who are also engaged in providing care for family members. The focus of this project will be the care of elderly parents, grandparents and disabled adult children, acknowledging the care needs of adults living with mental health issues, physical and developmental disabilities, addictions and long term illnesses as well as the corresponding challenge facing their caregivers, who must balance caregiving and paid employment responsibilities and often suffer significant economic disadvantages when they assume caregiving tasks.

The project goals:

Our work will culminate in a joint BC Law Institute and Canadian Centre for Elder Law study paper detailing the various legal issues arising from the need for employment leave for the purpose of family caregiving and will include recommendations for law reform. We will also be creating tools for educating British Columbians about their rights as caregivers with the hopes of empowering caregivers to access existing benefits that can support them in their role as caregivers.

They welcome comments, which may be emailed to familycare@bcli.org.