General Social Survey, Cycle 21, 2007 [Canada]: Family, Social Support, and Retirement

The General Social Survey (GSS) program gathers data on social subjects in order to monitor changes in the living conditions and well being of Canadians over time and to provide immediate information on specific social policy issues of current or emerging interest. The purpose of Cycle 21 is to better understand the experiences of Canadians 45 years of age and over by examining key transitions related to their families, care giving and receiving, work and retirement. The survey collected information on topics such as well-being, family composition, retirement decisions and plans, care giving and care receiving experiences, social networks and housing. New questions in Cycle 21 looked at consequences of giving care, returning to work after retirement and residential changes resulting from retirement. Results from this survey will have an impact in the areas of health, income security, employment and lifelong learning, marriage and family, housing, care-receiving and care-giving and retirement.