Grandparents and grandchildren

For many grandparents, later life is a time for enjoying the benefits of retirement. But thousands are finding themselves in an unusual position - raising their children's children.

In 2001, a total of 56,700 grandparents, or 1% of all grandparents, were living with their grandchildren without either of the child's parents involved, according to a report based on census data that appears in Canadian social trends.

These households, which consist of grandparents, grandchildren and no middle generation, are sometimes referred to as "skip-generation households."

Two-thirds of the grandparents in these households were women, and just under one-half (46%) were retired.

Data from the 2001 Census showed that 56,800 children lived with these grandparents. Of these youngsters, just under one-half, or 25,200, were aged 14 or under. These children accounted for 0.4% of the total population in this age group, about the same proportion as in 1991.

Provincially, the proportion of children aged 14 and under in skip-generation households was highest in Saskatchewan. There, 1.2% of grandchildren in this age group lived alone with a grandparent, three times the national average. The highest proportion, 2.3%, was in Nunavut, more than five times the national average.

However, in Quebec, only 0.2% of grandchildren aged 14 or under lived alone with a grandparent, and in Ontario, only 0.3% did so.

Census data also showed that nearly two-thirds (65%) of grandparents in skip-generation households were financially responsible for the household.

Nearly half a million grandparents live in shared homes

The 56,700 grandparents who lived in skip generations in 2001 accounted for about 12% of the more than 474,400 grandparents who shared households with their grandchildren.

The census provided a breakdown of these shared households, based on various generations living in them.

A majority of grandparents in shared homes, about 242,800, or 51%, lived in multi-generation households, that is, with their adult child, his or her spouse, and the grandchildren. This could include the so-called "sandwich" generation in which the middle generation, particularly women, care for both children and elderly parents.

One-third of the total, or about 158,200, lived in households in which the middle generation was a lone parent, most likely the mother. Lone mothers are more likely than mothers in two-parent families to be in need of support.

Only 16% of grandparents in multi-generational households where the middle generation was a couple were primary financial providers. But in cases where the middle generation was a lone parent, 50% of grandparents were financially responsible.

Profile of grandparents: Each has average of nearly five grandchildren

GSS data showed that there were 5.7 million grandparents in 2001. Each grandparent had on average 4.7 grandchildren.

Only 2% of women and 1% of men aged 45 and under were grandparents. In the age group 55 to 64, nearly two-thirds of women and just over one-half of men were grandparents.

However, about 80% of senior women aged 65 and older were grandmothers, while 74% of senior men were grandfathers.

More than one-half (53%) of all grandparents were retired, while 30% reported they were still in the labour force. About 11% stated their main activity as homemakers or childcare providers.

In 2001, over two-thirds (68%) of all grandparents were married, while 18% were widowed. An additional 10% were divorced or separated or had never been married, while 4% were living common-law.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey numbers, including related surveys, 3901 and 4501.

The article "Across the generations: Grandparents and grandchildren" is now available in the winter 2003 edition of Canadian social trends (11-008-XIE, $9/$29; 11-008-XPE, $12/$39).

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact Anne Milan (613-951-2756; cstsc@statcan.gc.ca), Housing, Family and Social Statistics Division.