Photo: Angus Reid Institute

More Canadians are caregiving for older family members while simultaneously raising children.

According to the Angus Reid Institute, one in four Canadians over the age of 30 are taking care of family members, and individuals in their forties and fifties are most commonly providing that care.

Three years ago, it became official in Canada that there were more seniors aged 65 and older than children 14 and under. 

For Canadians older than 30, 26 per cent are currently providing care, while 33 per cent believe they will provide care for a family member in the future. 

For individuals in their forties and fifties, 28 per cent are currently caregiving, and four in 10 believe they will become a caregiver in the future.

42 per cent of parents with children are aged between 40 and 59, making caregiving and parenting a twofold effort for those who do both.

For those who are currently caregiving, 47 per cent state they have made major sacrifices in order to balance their care taking responsibilities with their regular activities. 

Twenty-eight per cent of caregivers believe the person they care for cannot afford the care they require, and 43 per cent worry that the person they care for will be taken advantage of or harmed. 

Angus Reid Institute suggests these results will lead to financial and emotional strain on those caregiving and for seniors themselves.