A new report says more than 402-thousand Canadians aged 65-plus are estimated to have some form of dementia.
And the Canadian Institute for Health Information says about 270-thousand seniors were being cared for at home in 2015-16, the period covered by the report, with children or spouses most commonly taking on the role of caregiver.
The institute says it found that 45 per cent of family caregivers experience distress in their role, compared with 26 per cent of those providing care for seniors without dementia.
Tracy Johnson, the institute's director of health system analysis and emerging issues, says distress comes in the form of burn out or feeling that one can't continue to cope with the demands of caregiving.
She says unpaid caregivers may find themselves assisting with a range of activities -- including chores, meal preparation and transportation, as well as personal- care support with bathing and dressing.
Johnson says caregivers of those with dementia also take on additional responsibilities, such as providing emotional support, managing challenging behaviour and ensuring their loved ones' adherence to medication.