Key Findings

• Based on survey findings and Census data, around 26% of U.S. adults are “sandwiched” between taking care of their children and their aging parents
• California is the state with the highest proportion of adults in the Sandwich Generation (39%), and Texas is in 2nd place with 33%
• 35% of Sandwich Generation adults support their parents financially, spend around $725/month, amounting to between 13% and 16% of their household income.
• 61% are concerned about the future and 50% worry about being able to continue to juggle supporting their parents and their children
• Almost two-thirds (63%) of respondents in our survey are looking to either move in with their parents or have their parents move in with them in the next five years

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Meet the Sandwich Generation — adults who are “sandwiched” between their aging parents and their children by having to financially support and/or care for both. According to our estimates, some 26% of American adults are part of the Sandwich Generation, which equates to about 67.8 million people.

Why do so many Americans find themselves in this living arrangement? It’s a mixture of both demographic and socio-economic factors:

1. Older Americans enjoy an increasing life expectancy, and more need support in their advanced age.
2. More people are choosing to have children later in life.
3. The cost of living continues to rise, so more and more young adults are living with their parents or relying on them for financial support.

For this study, we surveyed 1,000 members of the Sandwich Generation to find out more about their family situation, the challenges they face, and their feelings about it. We also combined our findings with the U.S. Census Bureau data to estimate the number of people in the Sandwich Generation and how they’re spread across the United States.

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Caught in the Middle: Demographics of the Sandwich Generation

Pew Research defines the Sandwich Generation as those who have both a living parent aged 65 or older and at least one child who is either under 18 or an adult child who still needs financial support.

Based on the data from the Current Population Survey and our own survey that polled 1,000 members of the Sandwich Generation, we estimate that 26% of American adults (approximately 67.8 million people) are “sandwiched” between supporting both their children and their aging parents. This is up from 23% in 2022, as found by the Pew Research study.

 

“It’s worth pointing out that in Sandwich Generation families, care and support go both ways. Over half (57%) of Sandwich Generation adults are supported by their 65 or older parents socially, and 40% get help with kids.”

 

According to our survey, women make up the majority of the Sandwich Generation (58%), while men account for 42%. Age-wise, two-thirds (66%) of those in the Sandwich Generation are in their 30s or 40s.

Among those surveyed, 59% are supporting their parents aged 65+ and at least one child aged under 18, making it the most common variation of the family setup.

A further 17% have parents aged 65 or older and adult children living at home, while approximately 1 in 10 adults in the Sandwich Generation supports their 65+ parents and adult children who live separately. 

There is also a minority (7%) of adults who not only support their parents aged 65 or older, but also have at least one child under 18 and a child aged 18 or older living with them. 

Sandwiched in the Sun Belt: Mapping the Sandwich Generation

Even though the trends shaping the Sandwich Generation — such as the growing cost of living — apply to the whole of the U.S., there are certain regional differences in this demographic.

Based on the data from the combination of the Current Population Survey, the American Community Survey, and the survey we conducted, California has the highest proportion of Sandwich Generation adults in its population (39%).

There are four other states where that share is over 30% and they are Texas (33%), Nevada (31%), Mississippi (31%), and Arizona (31%).

State	Estimated % of adults in the Sandwich Generation
California	39%
Texas	33%
Mississippi	31%
Nevada	31%
Arizona	31%
Maryland	30%
Georgia	29%
New Mexico	29%
New York	29%
Florida	29%

One reason so many states in The Sun Belt make up the top ten is that these states have some of the highest average family sizes. Meaning that families in these states are more likely to have more children than families in other parts of the country.

That being said, the family size alone doesn’t explain why New York and Maryland make the top ten. Instead, what these states have in common is a high cost of living, which results in more young adults needing the financial support of their parents. According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, New York has the 5th highest cost of living of all states and Maryland is 7th highest in that ranking.

This brings us back to why California is the Sandwich Generation hotspot: it’s the state with the second-largest family size and the fourth-highest cost of living.

To see what percentage of adults are in the Sandwich Generation in your state, check our interactive map below.

Networks of Care: How Sandwich Generation Families Make it Work

As we have established above, being part of the Sandwich Generation generally means caring for and supporting your parents and children, and there are different ways individuals go about it.  

 

“…59% of respondents agree that caring for their children and parents makes them feel fulfilled and invigorated.” 

 

Among our survey participants, most support their aging parents socially (75%) and emotionally (68%). Nearly half (45%) support their aging parents financially (including housing), and 31% support their parents with acts of physical care, such as helping with medical needs or day-to-day activities.

Those supporting their parents financially spend an average of $725 per month on it, accounting for between 13% and 16% of their household income.

“I like being able to [take care of my parents],” said one of the Sandwich Generation adults we surveyed. “But my money is stretched out to the max”.

When it comes to caring about their adult children, emotional (45%) and financial support (39%) are the two most common ways adults in the Sandwich Generation help their kids.

Those supporting their adult children financially estimate their extra spending at an average of $567 per month, to the tune of 6% and 8% of the household income.

For some, continuously supporting their adult child is difficult. “I feel like it’s taking a toll on my mental and physical health…I’m still having to support my child that’s 18 or older knowing they can do good on their own,” one study participant wrote.

“I do wish my 20-year-old son was more independent,” wrote another.

It’s worth pointing out that in Sandwich Generation families, care and support go both ways. Over half (57%) of Sandwich Generation adults are supported by their 65 or older parents socially, and 40% get help with kids.

Over a quarter (26%) of respondents in our survey receive financial support from their parents aged 65 or older, and 16% get help with the chores around the house.

Parents’ Health and Children’s Future: What Worries the Sandwich Generation Adults

Thinking about the next five years, members of the Sandwich Generation are primarily concerned about their aging parents, namely their physical health (73%) and cognitive function (62%). 

For some, that problem remains in the future, but it still plays on the minds of those in the Sandwich Generation. “I don’t yet care for my parents but worry about their changing needs as they age,” wrote one respondent to our survey.

On a related note, nearly half (45%) are worried about having to find a care facility and being able to afford their care.

And because they have other family members to take care of, half (50%) of those surveyed worry about being able to juggle caring for both parents and their own kids and family members.

Of those who have children under 18, 35% are concerned about not having enough money to support them. Around a quarter worried their kids won’t be able to find a job (27%) or get into college (23%) when they grow up.

A quarter of respondents (24%) worry about having to continually support their adult children financially. As one respondent said, “We’re still paying for college for our 21-year-old and we’ll be glad when he graduates.”

A further 15% worry their adult kids might move in with them. However, some are ready for this possibility and accept that may be necessary due to the broader situation in the country. “I’ll do what I need to do to help my babies,” said one adult in the Sandwich Generation we surveyed.

“The kids need help though because the economy sucks,” admitted another.

Moving to Care: How Sandwich Generation Plans for Future Care Arrangements

Speaking of moving, almost two-thirds (63%) of Sandwich Generation members in our survey anticipate that either they or their parents will move in the next five years to be closer to each other. 

More than a quarter (26%) of the Sandwich Generation adults are considering moving their parents closer to them to better be able to give them the care they need. 24% are thinking about their parent(s) moving in with them, including 18% of those for whom it’d mean moving their parents across state lines. 

“It’s going to be a bit of a struggle I already foresee this,” one of the respondents noted. “However, they are my parents and were there for me as I grew into an adult so I shall be there for them.“

Almost 1 in 5 (18%) are thinking about finding a care facility for their aging parents to move to, and as many as 12% are prepared to move in with their parents to care for them.

Miranda Marquit, a Consumer Advocate at HireAHelper and a member of the Sandwich Generation herself, recommends starting conversations with parents about their care sooner rather than later: 

 

“It may be awkward and difficult to talk to your parents about care arrangements they don’t need yet, but…[h]aving a plan for their care helps bring everyone on the same page. It helps you, your parents, and other family members prepare for it mentally, emotionally, and financially. And even if you had this conversation once, it’s worth revisiting after a period of time, or if someone’s health, work, or financial circumstances have changed.” 

 

Care for parents isn’t the only factor driving potential moving intentions among people in the Sandwich Generation. Around 1 in 10 (11%) anticipate their aging parents moving in to save money on housing, while 8% might need their parents to help take care of children.

And while for some having family move in is hard to imagine, others are keen to take it on. As one of our study participants said, “I want to do what I can to help my family. I would move all my family in here if I have to. It’s not a burden at all!”

“Rewarding but Tiring”: What It’s Like To Be in the Sandwich Generation

Much like their family status, the experience of being in the Sandwich Generation is, for lack of a better word, complicated. 

On one hand, most (61%) of the Sandwich Generation members we surveyed feel anxious and concerned about the future. “It is exhausting. I never know which direction I’m being pulled in. It is a daily struggle,” one of our survey respondents said. 

Then, there is the cost of caring for two generations of family members. Almost half (46%) of those we surveyed reported their financial situation getting worse, with around one-third reporting sacrificing their retirement savings in order to financially support their children or parents.

Also among the negatives is the effect on psychological well-being. Around 41% of our survey respondents said having to support both their children and parents had a negative impact on their mental health. Around a quarter said their social life (28%) or work (23%) have suffered.

But there are positives, too. Almost a third of Sandwich Generation members we surveyed (31%) believe their “sandwiched” status made their family life better, and 28% note a positive effect on their overall well-being.

 

“…women make up the majority of the Sandwich Generation (58%), while men account for 42%. Age-wise, two-thirds (66%) of those in the Sandwich Generation are in their 30s or 40s.”

 

Finally, despite the amount of time, money, and effort it takes to care for their family, it’s part of what fills the lives of those in the Sandwich Generation with meaning. 

“I feel happy caring for both my parent and my children, because I feel the love of having a family,” one of our study participants wrote. Sure enough, 59% of respondents agree that caring for their children and parents makes them feel fulfilled and invigorated. 

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Sources and Methodology

All data, unless otherwise stated, have been derived from the findings of the survey HireAHelper ran via Pollfish in August 2023. 

The survey used a sample of 1,000 adults (18+) living in the United States, who fall under the definition of being in the “Sandwich Generation”: 

• Having at least one living parent aged 65 or older

AND

• Having a child under 18, or a child over 18 who lives with them or whom they support financially

Survey results were weighted by age, gender, and income using data extracted from the American Community Survey’s five-year data, collected from ~120,000 households.

The overall percentage of adults in the Sandwich Generation was determined based on the percentage of adults in the representative sample of adults in the U.S. who satisfy the screening criteria to qualify as being part of the Sandwich Generation.

The percentage of adults in the Sandwich Generation in each state was estimated using: 

• Each state’s population estimates from the Census Bureau (2022)

• Share of the population over 65 and under 18 in each state from the Census Bureau estimates (2022)

• Typical family living arrangements in each state from the 2022 release of the Annual Social and Economic Supplement (ASEC) of the Current Population Survey

• The share of households with 3+ generations in the same household in each state from American Community Survey (2021 data)

• Regional distribution of the Sandwich Generation respondents in our survey 

Other sources used in this study include WorldPopulationReview and Missouri Economic Research and Information Center.

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Illustrations by Maria Trigueros