Caring for children and ageing parents can take a big toll. Our survey uncovers the emotional, physical, and financial struggles facing the UK’s sandwich carers.
The Sandwich Generation Survey: Why UK Carers Are Reaching Breaking Point
When we think of carers, we tend to picture someone looking after an elderly parent with a health condition like Dementia or a relative living with a disability.
But there’s a growing group of people managing something far more complex: caring for both the older and younger generations in their family at the same time. These are known as ‘sandwich carers’, caught in the middle of an ageing population and often invisible in conversations about caregiving.
To shine a light on this often-overlooked group, we carried out a survey exploring the realities of sandwich caring in the UK today. We wanted to understand the scale of unpaid caregiving and reveal the potential toll it takes on those who do it.
Here are some of our key findings at a glance:
We surveyed 1,000 people aged 25-65 who identify as sandwich carers (people who care for more than one relative, both younger and older). The survey was carried out in September 2025 via the platform, Pollfish.
A sandwich carer is someone who provides unpaid care for dependent children and older relatives who may be frail, unwell, or have limited mobility – often their own parents. They’re caught in the middle of a caregiving ‘sandwich’, trying to balance the different needs of two different age groups while managing their own lives simultaneously. This demographic generally ranges anywhere from late teens to mid-60s, making sandwich carers one of the biggest groups of carers in the UK. Yet, despite their numbers and the vital role they play, most people have never even heard the term.
Sandwich caring involves juggling a wide range of responsibilities.
Our survey revealed that 21% of respondents were responsible for their household’s food shopping and household chores – tasks that can be particularly challenging for older carers who may struggle with lifting heavy bags or spending a lot of time on their feet. Beyond the practical tasks, 17% said they also provide companionship and emotional support, offering a listening ear to relatives who might not have an active social life.
Personal care is another big responsibility, with 16% of sandwich carers helping wash, dress, feed, or manage their relatives’ medication. This level of care takes a lot of patience and energy, and often sadly comes with little recognition.
Transport duties also fell to 16% of respondents in our survey, who found themselves coordinating school runs for children or driving elderly parents to medical appointments.
Meanwhile, 14% said they were in charge of arranging medical appointments and treatments, making sure their relatives get the care they need. Another 14% provided financial support, which is concerning, given that so many older adults are stretched thin trying to support multiple generations on already-limited pensions and savings.
What makes this even more challenging is that, while caring for their family members, sandwich carers are also trying to juggle their own lives – like maintaining employment, meeting their own everyday needs, and somehow finding room for hobbies and personal time in between.
Mike Lord, CEO at Stiltz says, “Most people don’t realise how much sandwich carers are actually doing day-to-day. These are people who are helping both their parents and children get dressed in the morning, then rushing to do the school run, then coordinating doctor’s appointments, then doing the weekly shop for the household. The demands never stop, and they vary from day to day. Understanding how much they’re managing is the first step towards offering them the support they desperately need.”
The rise in sandwich caring is the result of some major changes to family life in the UK.
Between 2021 and 2023, there were an estimated 1.4 million sandwich carers aged 16 to 64 in the UK, and this figure is only expected to grow. Two key factors are driving this trend: an ageing population that is living longer and needing more help from relatives, and people having children later in life. As of 2023, the average age for women to have their first child is 31 – a figure that’s been steadily climbing since the 1970s.
These factors, combined with rising living costs, have created a need for more multigenerational household arrangements, where mid-life adults care for both dependent children and ageing parents simultaneously.
Sandwich carers deal with a unique set of challenges that can, unfortunately, increase the likelihood of burnout and fatigue. Caring for two generations at once means double the responsibility, emotional labour, and physical demands, all of which take a toll.
One study conducted over nine years found that those who dedicate more than 20 hours per week to caregiving activities are particularly vulnerable to mental decline. We wanted to know more about how sandwich carers are impacted by their workload, and the results are shocking.
The emotional weight of being a sandwich carer can’t be overlooked. Our survey revealed that fatigue and pressure are prominent feelings for these carers, with 27% reporting experiencing exhaustion and 26% saying stress is what they feel most. It’s easy to see why: keeping up with energetic children or grandchildren while also keeping on top of ageing parents with mobility issues or medical needs can be physically draining.
While some respondents did report positive emotions – with 18% feeling fulfilled and 12% experiencing pride in their caring role – these feelings were far outweighed by the negative impacts. Feelings of isolation affected 8% of those surveyed, while another 8% said they feel guilt. In many cases, these emotions also feed into each other, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break.
Our survey also revealed a variety of mental health consequences. When we asked sandwich carers if they’d ever experienced burnout or felt at breaking point due to their caregiving responsibilities, an overwhelming 88% said yes. That’s nearly nine in ten people feeling pushed to their limit.
Concerningly, 39% told us their mental health has worsened since becoming a sandwich carer, while a further 38% have sought professional help for stress, anxiety, or depression linked to caregiving. Sadly, 33% of respondents said they haven’t sought help but feel like they should – suggesting the true scale of mental health struggles may be even higher than reported.
Mike adds, “It’s clear from the survey that stress, exhaustion, and feelings of guilt are all too common among sandwich carers. Their mental health can take a real hit, and it’s vital that this is recognised and that these carers feel supported and given practical tools to manage the pressure.”
Being a sandwich carer doesn’t just affect your mental health – it can also change how you see yourself and live your life.
The vast majority of those we surveyed (84%) said they feel caught between the needs of their children and ageing relatives. This feeling is made worse by the fact that 86% told us they feel guilty about not being able to give enough attention to either relative. That’s an enormous amount of guilt to carry around every day.
What stands out from our findings is how much sandwich carers sacrifice their identities and personal lives in the process. Three-quarters of respondents said they feel guilty about wanting time for themselves, even simply wanting an hour to relax and unwind. It’s a telling sign of how all-consuming the caring role can become if you don’t have the right support system.
The impact being a sandwich carer can have on your personal identity is particularly shocking. Nearly two-thirds (65%) feel like their identity has been affected outside of being a carer – as a friend, a partner, a professional, or simply as an individual. When your days are filled with caregiving tasks, it’s easy to lose sight of who you were or the life you had before.
Many told us they don’t have enough time for their own hobbies, interests, or personal goals (39%), while 58% sadly admitted that being a sandwich carer has increased their sense of loneliness and isolation.
The day-to-day impacts are significant, too. Nearly a third (33%) have had to reduce their working hours to manage their caregiving responsibilities, which often means less income at a time when expenses are higher than ever.
Mike says, “Being a sandwich carer can mean putting your life on hold. So many people told us they’ve lost time for the things they love, they feel disconnected from their friends, or they’ve had to cut back at work. It’s a huge sacrifice that really deserves wider recognition and support.”
It’s clear that sandwich carers are struggling, and they know it. When we asked them directly, 78% said they feel overwhelmed by their caregiving responsibilities. Perhaps even more concerning is that 56% feel like there isn’t enough support available to help them – showing a real gap between what’s needed and what’s actually on offer.
So, what would actually make a difference?
We asked sandwich carers which type of support would help them most to better understand the areas they’d like to see improvement in. A third (34%) said more financial support would make the biggest difference to their lives. When you’re managing expenses for multiple generations, whether that’s helping to pay for your parents’ care needs or covering the cost of school uniforms and food shopping for your grandchildren, the financial pressure can be relentless.
Workplace flexibility came in as the second most-wanted form of support, with 24% saying this would help them most. Being able to leave work for a doctor’s appointment or adjust your hours to pick up the grandkids from school could take a huge weight off.
Better mental health support was also cited by 14%, while 12% said more access to respite care would be invaluable. Knowing you could take a short break without feeling guilty could be life-changing.
Meanwhile, 11% want more recognition from the government, and 4% highlighted community-based support groups as something they would find helpful.
“Our survey shows that more financial support, workplace flexibility, and access to respite care could make a real difference in the lives of sandwich carers,” says Mike. “These are kindhearted family members who are going above and beyond to make sure their loved ones are cared for, yet there are very few measures in place to care for them.”
“We hope this research sparks greater awareness and encourages more support for these vital yet often overlooked members of our communities.”
Being a sandwich carer means managing countless daily tasks, and the physical demands of travelling throughout your home can add unnecessary strain.
A Stiltz home lift – including our standard Duo model and wheelchair-friendly Trio – can be a game-changer in sandwich carer households. These lifts not only allow those with limited mobility to move between floors with ease but also help transport heavy shopping bags or laundry.
Contact us today to find out more, or take a look at our blog for inspiration and advice on ageing comfortably at home.
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