Many Canadians are feeling the pressures of being sandwich caregivers, where they are responsible for caring for both aging parents and growing children simultaneously. Marci Gray, a resident of Brampton, Ont., shares her experience of balancing her own children’s needs with those of her aging parents and in-laws. She is also responsible for providing round-the-clock care for her 106-year-old grandmother. Gray has learned from experience that self-care is essential in order to thrive while juggling multiple caregiving roles. Statistics Canada reports that 42 percent of Canadians over the age of 15 provide unpaid care, with 13 percent caring for multiple individuals, making them a sandwiched generation.
The sandwiched phenomenon is a result of various demographic factors, including older Canadians living longer, the baby boomer generation needing more care as they age, and more Canadians having children later in life. This has led to a delicate balance for those in their prime working years who are caring for both children and older adults. With a shortage of personal service workers and nurses in Canada, the burden of caregiving is falling more on unpaid caregivers. As more baby boomers enter this stage of life, the need for caregivers, both paid and unpaid, will continue to grow.
Caregiving can feel like an extra shift at work, with caregivers providing an average of 5.1 hours of care per day. This can lead to physical, mental, and financial stresses, as caregivers often face financial distress and significant out-of-pocket expenses. Women are more likely to be sandwich caregivers than men, and they also tend to take on more direct care responsibilities, leading to worse outcomes in their own well-being, finances, relationships, and careers. Women often feel a disproportionate burden of responsibility for caregiving and struggle to find a balance between caring for others and caring for themselves.
Gray emphasizes the importance of delegation and negotiation in caregiving, particularly for women who tend to take on the majority of caregiving responsibilities. Finding a balance between caring for others and prioritizing self-care is crucial for caregivers to avoid burnout. Booking a vacation for oneself can be a first step towards building in breaks and sharing the responsibility of caregiving with others. Unpaid caregiving can feel overwhelming without breaks, and caregivers must prioritize their own well-being in order to continue thriving and surviving.
The demands for home care are expected to increase in the coming years as more baby boomers require assistance with daily tasks. Many Canadians are feeling the strain of balancing caregiving responsibilities with their own personal and professional lives, leading to feelings of overwhelm and burnout. Women, in particular, face challenges in managing the unequal burden of caregiving and often struggle to find time for self-care. Building a network of support and learning to share the responsibilities of caregiving are essential skills for caregivers to maintain their well-being and prevent burnout in the face of increasing demands for care.
