Who are the sandwich caregivers in Canada?

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Release date: April 2, 2024
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Infographic: Who are the sandwich caregivers in Canada?
Description: Who are the sandwich caregivers in Canada?

In 2022, 1.8 million (13%) of the 13.4 million Canadians aged 15 or older who provided unpaid care in the previous 12 months were sandwich caregivers.Note 1


Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1 percent (appearing as column headers).
percent
Care for children and care-dependent adults/youth over 15Note 2 13%
Care for children 52%
Care for care-dependent adults/youth 35%

The family relationships between sandwich caregivers and care receivers are varied.


Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2 percent (appearing as column headers).
percent
Care for parents and children 34%
Care for parents and grandchildren 15%
Care for a spouse/partner and children 8%
Care for a spouse/partner and grandchildren 7%

Sandwich caregivers were more likely to be of prime working age: 60% were 25 to 54 years of age.


Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3 percent (appearing as column headers).
percent
15 to 24 years 7%
25 to 34 years 11%
35 to 44 years 29%
45 to 54 years 20%
55 to 64 years 18%
65 to 74 years 13%
75 years and older 2%

Women were more likely than men to be sandwich caregivers.


Table 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 4 percent (appearing as column headers).
percent
Women 62%
Men 38%

Among sandwich caregivers, women were more likely than men to report negative impacts of caregiving on their…


Table 5
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 5 Men and Women (appearing as column headers).
Men Women
Health and well-being 75% 93%
Finances 28% 41%
Family relationships 38% 50%

Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Social Survey (Wave 6) – Well-being and Caregiving, 2022, and Canada’s Care Economy: A Conceptual Framework, November 2023.

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© His Majesty the King in Right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2024

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