Being a caregiver at a personal care home can sometimes be a thankless job. This week was Caregiver Appreciation Week to give thanks to those frontline workers. 

According to Carers Canada, there are 6.1 million caregiver workers in the country, making up 35 per cent of the workforce. Their statistics also showed that 60 per cent of those workers balance paid caregiver work with unpaid care work. 

“Not everybody can do this kind of job. Especially when we are taking care of people with dementia, Alzheimer's and even clients who have COVID. It's a really hard job,” said Indanah Boechler, a caregiver at Marcie Private Care Home. 

The past few years have been especially hard for caregivers and the clients that they look after. With COVID-19, many residents were isolated from visitors and had to spend most of the time in their rooms. 

Meanwhile, those taking care of them were on the front lines, potentially exposing themselves to COVID-19. 

“Even right now, we still have to follow the rules when the resident is sick. We have to keep them inside their room. We don't go outside until they are free of COVID,” Boechler said. 

Boechler said that at their care home on Friday night, the caregivers will be receiving thank you cards and they will have a small celebration as a token of appreciation.