Millions Are Raising Children While Caring for an Adult Family Member

Nearly 17 million family caregivers, 29% of all caregivers of an adult, are raising children while also caring for an adult with a complex medical condition or disability. This report from the Caregiving in the US 2025 series finds that sandwich generation caregivers aren't spending more hours caregiving than others, they're packing more into the same hours, often taking on medical and nursing tasks typically handled by health care professionals. The result is a measurable toll on their physical health, emotional well-being, work, and finances. Read the full report.

Key Takeaways

• Nearly 17 million Americans, 29% of all caregivers of an adult, are sandwich generation caregivers, raising children while also caring for an adult with a complex medical condition or disability. On average, they are 42 years old.
• Sandwich generation caregivers provide about the same number of hours of care each week as other caregivers, 27 hours on average, but they help with significantly more daily tasks like bathing, dressing, and mobility.
• As a result, 48% of sandwich generation caregivers are now in high-intensity caregiving situations, up from just over a third (36%) a decade ago, compared to 42% of other caregivers. They are also more likely to be handling medical or nursing tasks at home, like injections and wound care: 61%, compared to 53% of other caregivers.
• Sandwich generation caregivers face a 50% higher risk of physical strain from caregiving, and only 16% have ever been asked by a health care provider what they need to take care of themselves.
• Sandwich generation caregivers are significantly more likely to experience work disruption and financial strain than other caregivers. 67% report a work disruption due to caregiving. 22% experience high financial strain, compared to 16% of other caregivers.