Issue link: http://clhia.uberflip.com/i/354914
15 experienced by caregivers, both financially and emotionally, and those being cared for to ensure neither will experience undue financial setbacks. Respite services provide an important break to caregivers through a range of services such as adult day care, in-home respite care, and overnight or longer-term respite stays in facilities. While many Canadians have access to respite programs, the availability and accessibility vary widely across the provinces. In addition, caregivers may have limited support to help them to identify and meet their needs. Given the critical role they play, greater access to respite services and support services in general would benefit informal caregivers, those being cared for and the health care system. Recommendations The CLHIA recommends that federal provincial and territorial governments provide greater tax relief for Canadians that incur expenses to support the long-term care needs of others through informal care. This could include allowing tax credits for expenses incurred to provide informal care. The CLHIA recommends that federal, provincial, territorial governments and stakeholders work collaboratively to provide greater access to and awareness of respite care services for informal caregivers to help manage the important and challenging role they play. Private delivery of these services will help to address shortages being faced. Unlocking the Power of Volunteerism The baby boomer generation represents a very large potential pool of energetic and capable human resources to help provide support to individuals and their communities. This can be through volunteering or through continued paid work. Seniors themselves benefit from a strong voluntary sector both as contributors and beneficiaries. Given the aging demographics of Canada it is reasonable to expect that there will be a growing number of seniors that will want to remain active and will be looking for ways to help others. For example, in Canada, Meal on Wheels is a not-for-profit organization that has the objective of helping people live independently in their own homes. To this end, volunteers play a significant role by delivering meals and providing transportation to essential appointments with physicians and health care professionals. In the U.S., we have started to see private companies spring up based on this principle. For instance, a company in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors, matches seniors who want to provide help with seniors who are looking for help. The company started in 1998 with a concept that seniors can help each other age better and that those who give and those who receive benefit equally. Canada needs to ensure that we encourage and promote an active senior volunteer infrastructure as a means to mitigate against some of the expected shortages outlined above. Governments could encourage volunteerism by providing special tax incentives to recognize seniors that volunteer to provide in-home care. This approach would benefit all participants by allowing those providing care to