Tuesday, October 12, 2004

SPOTLIGHT: ‘Sandwich generation’

Juggling kids and parents

THEY ARE called the "sandwich generation", the people caught between the often conflicting demands of raising children and caring for aging parents or other relatives.

It is not a new phenomenon. Years ago, it was not unusual to find three generations in a single household.

Today, however, people caught in the syndrome often pay a price in terms of lost income, extra expenses, their health and their social lives, according to the first statistical portrait of this group. And they have little formal support.

In 2002, almost three out of 10 individuals aged 45 to 64 with unmarried children under 25 in the home were also caring for a senior. This amounted to some 712,000 people.

More than eight out of 10 “sandwiched” individuals worked, causing some to reduce or shift their hours or to lose income.

Work hours

Indeed, caring for an elderly person could lead to a change in work hours, refusal of a job offer, or a reduction in income. Some 15% of sandwiched workers had to reduce their hours, 20% had to change their schedules and 10% lost income.

Also, four out of 10 sandwiched workers incurred extra expenses such as renting medical equipment or purchasing cell phones.

The vast majority of individuals provided care for their parents or parents-in-law. About 25% was directed toward other relatives, friends, neighbours or co-workers.

The impact of providing care increases with time spent. For example, one-half of those spending more than eight hours per month, or the so-called "high-intensity caregivers", had to change their social activities. Over one-third had to change their work schedule.

Stressed

Sandwiched workers were more likely to feel generally stressed. About 70% of them reported stress, compared with about 61% of workers with no responsibilities of caring for children or seniors.

However, the overwhelming majority felt satisfied with life in general, about the same percentage as those with fewer care-giving responsibilities.

The ranks of the sandwich generation are likely to grow, because of the aging of the baby boomers, lower fertility rates and the delay in family formation. Population projections indicate that by 2026, one in five Canadians will be 65 or older, compared with only one in eight in 2001.

These factors will result in more elderly family members requiring care when children are still part of the household.

The article "The sandwich generation" is now available in the September 2004 online edition of Perspectives on labour and income.

For more information, contact Cara Williams (613-951-6972), Labour and Household Surveys Analysis Division.

  Print article

© 2004, Statistics Canada.