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The sandwich generation refers to working adults, typically between ages 30 and 50, who simultaneously care for both their children and aging parents. According to 2022 Statistics Canada findings, 1.8 million Canadians were “sandwiched” between multiple care responsibilities. As Canada’s population ages and child-rearing costs climb, these dual responsibilities are becoming more common- and more demanding.
This listicle highlights a range of supports and resources for employees in the sandwich generation, as well as for employers who want to better support their caregiving workforce.
Supports for carers
Carers Canada [Website]
Carers Canada is a national coalition working to raise awareness and enhance support for caregivers across Canada. The site offers educational resources, advocacy updates and campaigns promoting caregiver recognition.
Generation Care: The New Culture of Caregiving [Book]
A comprehensive look at the evolving caregiving landscape, featuring real-life caregiver stories, social commentary and research, and a roadmap for building a more sustainable caregiving culture.
How Care Coaches Support The Sandwich Generation (Trualta)
This article explores how working caregivers can benefit from care coaches – professionals who help individuals balance work, family and caregiving through personalized guidance and resources.
How to balance your career and caregiving duties (Canada Life)
Canada Life offers practical tips such as creating realistic plans with your employer, build a support network, and setting boundaries to help balance work and caregiving demands.
The Sandwich Generation – Managing stress and finances (Canada Life)
This blog outlines the financial challenges faced by caregivers and highlights federal supports including the Canada Child Benefit (CCB), Old Age Security (OAS) and Employment Insurance caregiving benefits.
What Is The Sandwich Generation? Guide For Modern Caregivers (Trualta)
This guide offers practical strategies for managing caregiving responsibilities, such as using smart home devices, accessing local services and support groups and involving extended family in care.
How employers can help
Caregivers In The Workplace: A Guide For Employers (Ontario Caregiver Organization)
This extensive guide from the Ontario Caregiver Organization helps employers build awareness and understanding of caregiving in the workplace as well as guiding them in developing policies and practices to support managers in understanding, supporting and accommodating working caregivers.
Five ways to support the sandwich generation at work (ManuLife)
This article outlines strategies for supporting employees with caregiving responsibilities, including mental health resources, flexible work options and benefit plans that address family care needs.
How Employers Can Support the Sandwich Generation (Homethrive)
Highlights how caregiving duties can limit career progression and what employers can do to mitigate these effects- such as leadership training to recognize caregiver stress and integrating care support into workplace wellness strategies.
“Sandwiching” isn’t a trend. It’s a crisis (LinkedIn) [Podcast]
This podcast epsiode discusses several topics faced by the sandwich generation including the emotional toll of caregiving, why caregiving should be treated as real work and how to support colleagues who are balancing care responsibilities.
The Sandwich Generation Needs Workplace Support. Here’s How Leaders Can Help (Spring Health)
This article looks at how leaders can support their employees who are part of the sandwich generation. Some of the strategies include mental health support, financial wellness programs and flexible work arrangements.
Why the Sandwich Generation is So Stressed Out and How HR Can Help (Human Resources Professionals Association)
According to the Canadian Medical Association Journal, sandwich caregivers spend an average of 19 hours per week on unpaid care and domestic labor. This article shares how HR professionals can better support caregiving employees by ensuring adequate benefits and leave policies are in place.
Awareness and advocacy
A National Caregiving Strategy for Canada (Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence)
This strategy identifies five key policy areas to strengthen Canada’s caregiving landscape, including better workplace supports for employed caregivers. It advocates for long-term solutions that recognize the social and economic value of care.
“Sandwiched” between unpaid care for children and care-dependent adults: A gender-based study (Statistics Canada)
This 2022 study reveals that 42% of Canadians aged 15 and older provide unpaid care, with 13% acting as sandwich caregivers. It highlights the disproportionate impact on women and the health, employment and financial implications of unpaid caregiving.
Who are the sandwich caregivers in Canada? (Statistics Canada) [Infographic]
A visual breakdown of who makes up the sandwich generation, including age, gender, time spent caregiving and employment status.
Additional resources:
- Caught in the Middle: Helping the Sandwich Generation Thrive at Work (Modern Health)
- Episode 10: The sandwich generation: How family caregiving impacts health & longevity (Podcast)
- Sandwich Generation Tips: How to Balance Caregiving with Work (HumanGood)
- Sandwich Carers: Who Are They, and How Can Organisations Offer Support? (AtkinsonHR)
- Work/Life Balance for Family Caregivers (MeetCaregivers)
- Family Caregivers of British Columbia
- Eldercare Canada
- CanAge- Canada’s National Senior’s Advocacy Organization
