Overview

Abstract (English)

Even though most grandparents live in separate households from their adult children and grandchildren, sometimes the grandparent and grandchild generations live together. This article provides information on the number of grandparents who are in this particular situation, along with their living arrangements and their ethnocultural and sociodemographic characteristics. * In 2011, there were about 7 million grandparents aged 45 and over in private households, representing 57% of the population in this age group. Grandparents had 4.2 grandchildren on average. * In 2011, close to 600,000 grandparents aged 45 and over lived with their grandchildren, accounting for 8% of all grandparents and for 4% of the overall population in this age group. * Most grandparents who lived with their grandchildren also lived with at least one middle-generation person (88%). The rest (12%) were in ‘skip-generation’ households, that is, with no middle generation present. * Persons aged 45 and over who reported an Aboriginal identity and reported a Traditional Aboriginal Spirituality had larger proportions of grandparents living with their grandchildren. As well, higher proportions were seen among Sikh (Punjabi-speaking in most cases) and Hindu populations. * Of all grandparents living with their grandchildren in 2011, 62% were married or in a common-law union. Of those not in couples, 25% of co-residing grandparents were widowed and an additional 14% were divorced, separated or had never been married.

Abstract (French)

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