Knowledge and experiences of young people (ages 14-35) across Canada with care, aging and dementia 

Young people play a bigger role in caregiving than many realize. This study invites you to share your experiences, knowledge, and questions about care, aging, and dementia

Two women look directly at the camera. The one on the left is older with short white hair, brown eyes, and red lipstick. The woman on the right is a young and has long brown wavy hair, brown eyes, and a nose ring.

Across Canada, many young people play important roles in supporting adults through physical and household tasks, offering emotional support, and navigating the health system for their family member. We call these young people “young caregivers” or “young carers.” Young caregivers might be providing care to someone living with dementia, yet their knowledge and perspectives in these roles are not well understood. Very little research has asked young people directly about what they know and what they need when it comes to aging, caregiving, and dementia.

This project aims to change this!

Working in collaboration with the Young Caregiver Council of Canada and the Young Caregivers Association, our team developed a comprehensive, youth‑informed survey to learn more about the knowledge and experiences of young people (ages 14–35) across Canada with care, aging, and dementia.

Our Research Objectives

01
Understand young people’s knowledge, experiences, and attitudes about aging, care, and dementia.

02
Learn about the caregiving roles and supports young people currently have or need, including those supporting older adults living with dementia.

03
Identify gaps in education, resources, and services that could better support youth who are caregivers today or may become caregivers in the future.

04
Develop better questions and tools for understanding youth caregiving and perspectives on aging and dementia.

Click here for Consent and Information Letter

Want to join our Research Study?

Link to Survey

Related Research

Grigorovich, A., Norman, R., Dupuis, S., Smale, B., & Kontos, P. (2024). Stigma associated with dementia among recreation and leisure studies students and professionals. Leisure/Loisir, 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/14927713.2024.2437419

Norman, R. A. (2024). A guide to supporting young carers through relational leisure and practice. Relational Child and Youth Care Practice, 37(3), 38-60. https://www.rcycp.com/

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Meet the Team

  • A headshot of Alisa Grigorovich, the primary investigator of the dynamic aging lab. Alisa is a White woman with short grey hair, and is wearing a black blazer and glasses, smiling at the camera.

    Dr. Alisa Grigorovich

    Principal Investigator‍ ‍ Brock University

  • A photo of Camryn Berry, a co-investigator for the project. Camryn is a woman with curly brown hair, wearing a black turtleneck and smiling at the camera.

    Camryn Berry

    Co–Investigator ‍ Young Caregiver Council of Canada

  • Professional headshot of a woman with curly, shoulder-length silvery-black hair, smiling warmly at the camera with her arms crossed. She is wearing a dark, patterned long-sleeve top with a geometric design in muted red, blue, and cream tones.

    Dr. Pia Kontos

    Co-Investigator‍ ‍ University Health Network - University of Toronto

  • A headshot of Bryan Smale, a collaborator for the project. He is a man with short white hair and glasses, and is looking forward at the camera.

    Dr. Bryan Smale

    Co-Investigator University of Waterloo

  • A headshot of Dr. Rosanne Aleong, a co-investigator for the project. Rosanne is a woman with short black hair, wearing a purple top and black cardigan, slightly smiling at the camera.

    Dr. Rosanne Aleong

    Co-Investigator‍ ‍Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care; Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation

  • A photo of Dr. Rebecca Raby, a co-investigator for the project. Rebecca is a woman with short light brown hair, wearing a black top, and slightly smiling at the camera.

    Dr. Rebecca Raby

    Co-Investigator‍ ‍ Brock University

  • A headshot of Dr. Sherry Dupuis, a co-investigator for the project. Sherry is a woman with shoulder-length straight brown hair, wearing a black jacket, and slightly smiling at the camera.

    Dr. Sherry Dupuis

    Co-Investigator ‍ University of Waterloo

  • Rebekah Gold

    Research Assistant ‍ ‍Brock University; Young Caregiver Council of Canada

  • Madalena Liougas

    Research Assistant‍ ‍University Health Network - University of Toronto; Young Caregiver Council of Canada

Young Caregivers Association
Brock University
Young Caregiver Council of Canada. Logo features two hands reaching out towards one another within a heart.
UHN Logo, featuring a red geometric maple leaf and the slogan, "Canada's Hospital".
University of Waterloo
Baycrest
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