A new survey from Finance of America finds one-third of Americans aged 40-60 report feeling significant emotional, physical, and financial strain as they try to balance caring for both aging parents and children.
Go deeper: Within this group, men feel more financial pressure and women are more inclined to bear emotional and physical caregiving burdens.
By the numbers:
- More than three-quarters of self-identified sandwich caregivers report being emotionally, physically, and financially exhausted.
- 29 percent expect multigenerational living (parents moving in), complicating space, budgets and routines.
- 26 percent of respondents’ parents hadn’t planned on living this long, underscoring planning gaps.
- 21 percent have delayed life events (home ownership, marriage), rising to 45 percent among those who feel ‘sandwiched.’
- Open conversations about family finances make a measurable difference: 60 percent less overwhelmed; 63 percent worry less; 84 percent focus on what matters.
“The emotional and financial strain of caring for parents and children at the same time is real—and growing. Macroeconomic pressures such as inflation have placed increased pressure on sandwich caregivers during their peak earning years,” said Kristen Sieffert, President at Finance of America.
- “But amid that strain, there are steps caregivers can take to alleviate stress and set a path forward. Our survey shows that honest conversations about family finances can make a meaningful difference.”
