The National Institute on Ageing, Canada's research body on ageing policy, links caregiving to lost work hours now and weaker retirement security later. For long-distance caregivers, travel adds missed days and extra costs to that loss. The briefing draws on the NIA survey of 6,001 Canadians age 50 and older in June-July 2025, released January 20, 2026. It matters for dementia care because help from afar often means urgent trips, split shifts, and hard choices about staying employed.
Medical information disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician or other qualified health professional about symptoms, medications, tests, or treatment decisions.
Table of Contents
- When a job and caregiving collide
- What leaving work can cost for life
- Why retirement timing is slipping
- Why distance raises the job risk
- What to check before the next trip
When a job and caregiving collide
About 15% of Canadians age 50 and older work while serving as a primary caregiver, reports the National Institute on Ageing in its survey summary. Work hours and care hours then compete directly. A missed shift can mean lost pay, used leave, or reduced hours.
The national cost is large. The National Institute on Ageing estimates insufficient work-care supports cost Canada $1.3 billion yearly in lost productivity, as cited by OMERS community reporting. Employers lose output. Families lose income and momentum at work.
What leaving work can cost for life
Stepping out to care for a parent carries a lifetime price. Family caregivers age 50 and older who leave work lose $303,880 on average in foregone income, pension, and Social Security-type benefits, according to the National Institute on Ageing cited by OMERS.
That figure is not one missed paycheck. It combines lower earnings, smaller workplace pensions, and lower retirement benefits. Re-entry rarely restores the full path, since raises, contributions, and seniority stall during time away.
Why retirement timing is slipping
Only 29% of older Canadians could afford to retire when they wanted in 2025, down from 35% in 2022, reports the National Institute on Ageing in its January media release. Time out of work for caregiving is a key driver for women. Delayed retirement then becomes necessity, not choice.
Women carry more of that risk. The NIA July 2026 data, reported by Wealth Professional, found 24% of older women report inadequate income versus 19% of men. Only 25% of women versus 33% of men can afford their desired timing, and 26% versus 19% have under $5,000 saved.
Why distance raises the job risk
A half-day journey changes the math. Statistics Canada found 62% of caregivers living more than a half-day trip from a parent faced extra expenses. About 40% missed full days of work, with women hit harder.
For dementia, distance often means crisis travel. A fall, hospital discharge, or behavior change can force same-week flights, hotels, and unpaid days. One long episode can use up leave meant for a full year.
What to check before the next trip
Tax relief is limited but wider in 2026. The National Institute on Ageing notes in its Budget 2026 commentary that the Canada Caregiver Credit becomes fully refundable at up to $1,260 yearly for an estimated 585,000 caregivers, including 180,000 low-income caregivers once excluded.
Refundable means payment even with little or no tax owed. Use a one-page trip plan to protect work: Bring that log to tax time and to any meeting about hours, leave, or retirement timing.
- List likely travel dates, backup cover, and paid-leave balances.
- Track fares, lodging, meals, and missed hours in one place.
- Ask payroll how partial days, remote work, and caregiver leave are coded.
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