Marilyn Pytka
Marilyn Pytka found herself in financial, physical, professional and personal ruin after spending over 20 years as her mother’s family caregiver. She was forced into litigation immediately following her mother’s death. She then found herself fighting for herself and her young child in a legal system that marginalized, denigrated and trivialized her. She says that Canada has laws to protect women who give up their careers to care for their family, but lacks laws to protect family caregivers, usually women from low-income families, caring for family members. Determined that Canadian family caregivers, their families and future generations will not suffer the fate she has experienced, she’s testified before a Parliamentary Committee and addressed federal and provincial politicians about the need for legislation to protect people such as herself from the infringements of their rights and compensation after years of caring for a loved one who is elderly, ill or dying. mapytka@sympatico.ca
