Investors Group's Boomers on Call survey of Canadians aged 43 to 63 reveals that one-in-ten boomers with children say they also provide some type of support to their aging parents as well as looking after their own needs. Of this group, four-in-ten say they experience stress as a result of these combined responsibilities.

While boomers have a positive attitude about caring for their parents - 66 per cent feel they're repaying their parents for their upbringing - they are not as happy about giving money to their adult children. Twenty five per cent of the 'paying parents' said they were bothered by the need to provide financial assistance. The survey showed that six-in-ten boomer parents provide financial support averaging $3,675 per year to their adult children.

The Investors Group said there are four categories of boomers like this.

1.The Venture Capitalist - Boomers who invest the initial capital to get their children to the next stage of self-sufficiency

Four-in-ten (44 per cent) boomer parents indicate that they are currently contributing to their child's post-secondary education or have already done so. A further two-in-ten (21 per cent) expect to make this expenditure. Interestingly, six-in-ten (62 per cent) boomer parents say that their own parents did not offer this type of assistance.

The majority of boomer parents (52 per cent) say they expect their children to be financially self-sufficient by age 25, while more than half of the parents (53 per cent) say they themselves became financially self-supporting before age 21.

2.The Service Provider - Boomers assisting children who do not require boarding but still need emotional and financial support.

Seven-in-ten (70 per cent) boomer parents have children aged 19 and over living away from home. These parents travel 190 km per month - on average - to provide some type of assistance to their children. This assistance includes a wide variety of chores such as babysitting grandchildren, helping with major financial decisions, doing car repairs and performing home maintenance and repairs.

3.The Funding Agency - Boomers providing lodging and financial relief to adult children with insufficient funds

Two-in-ten (22 per cent) boomer parents have a child aged 19 or over living at home. Of this group, six-in-ten (58 per cent) say that their adult child makes no financial contribution to the household.

4. The Universal Coverage Provider: - Boomers caring for both parents and children, placing eggs in too many baskets

Due to the time spent helping both parents and children, one-third (34 per cent) of these sandwich boomers say they've postponed or cancelled travel plans, and a third (32 per cent) say they're unable to focus on their own hobbies and interests.

However, the financial assistance this group provides could have even more significant consequences. As a result of financially supporting both their parents and their children, four-in-ten (39 per cent) say they've been forced to reduce the amount they're investing for retirement and one-quarter (24 per cent) say they have adopted a less comfortable lifestyle. One-quarter (24 per cent) expressed concern that this financial assistance will jeopardize their retirement security.

"With children taking longer to become self-sufficient, and aging parents expected to live longer, boomers are headed for the perfect generational storm," said Olshewski. "One way to cope with these responsibilities is to know how much assistance you can afford to give, and how much you need to take care of yourself."