The Sandwich Generation

Author

Cara Williams

Organization

Statistics Canada

Published

2004

Summary

In 2002, about 27% of those aged 45 to 64 with
unmarried children in the home were also caring
for a senior. More than 8 in 10 of these individuals
worked, causing some to reduce or shift their
hours or to lose income.

Sandwiched workers were more likely to feel
generally stressed—about 70% compared with
about 61% of workers with no child-care or eldercare
responsibilities. However, almost all (95%)
felt satisfied with life in general—about the same
percentage as those with fewer caregiving
responsibilities.

Women were more likely than men to be
sandwiched and, on average, provided more hours
of elder care per month (29 versus 13).

The effects of providing elder care increase with
time spent. For example, one-half of those
spending more than eight hours per month (highintensity
caregivers) had to change their social
activities, and over a third had to change their
work schedule.

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Source: Consumer Policy Research Database