New Care.com Report Finds America’s Sandwich Generation’s Caregiving Duties Began Around Age 34, Blindsiding Most

DALLAS, TX (July 21, 2026) - One in four American adults is part of the sandwich generation, according to Pew Research Center - simultaneously raising children while caring for an aging parent. Now, new research from Care.com reveals what that actually costs them: 24 hours a week of caregiving, careers quietly derailed, finances reshaped, and a life stage that can arrive at around 34, suddenly and largely without warning. Care.com's first-ever Sandwich Generation Report surveyed 1,000 Americans currently living this reality. 80% say the onset of having both senior and child care responsibilities was sudden and took them by surprise. 86% say that at first, they were completely unprepared for the challenge of having both senior and child care responsibilities.

Today's sandwich generation began dual care responsibilities at around 34 years old on average, according to the survey, with those responsibilities already overlapping for 6.4 years. 69% say those dual responsibilities began earlier in life than they expected. What followed was a workload most people would recognize as a second job: on average, sandwich generation parents spend 23.8 hours a week arranging, managing, coordinating, or providing care for their children and adult/senior loved ones. For mothers, that number climbs to 26.8 hours. And for 84%, they always or often feel like the "default person" others turn to when care needs arise, including half of mothers who say they are always that person.

The time has to come from somewhere. 97% say their life feels at least a little different from peers their age who don't have dual care responsibilities - 47% say very different. 86% agree that they feel like their own life is paused while they manage everyone else's needs. 87% say they expected life to feel more stable than this. When caregiving demands intensify, most parents report deprioritizing their social life (69%), their sleep (69%), and their mental health (63%).

The emotional toll runs just as deep and is largely carried alone. 72% agree that they feel lonely even though many people depend on them. 80% agree that they feel mentally overloaded from making care decisions, and 80% agree that they need a break but do not know how to take one.

Sandwich generation responsibilities are reshaping the biggest decisions people make, starting with family itself. 73% agree that caring for their parents has changed their own plans for building their family. 91% say they wanted to have children while their parents were still able to be present in their grandchildren's lives and make memories together. 66% say their timeline for having kids was rushed or earlier than originally planned because they wanted their parents to be around.

Financially, the picture is equally sobering. 80% agree that paying for both child care and senior care has changed the financial future they expected for themselves. 82% agree that even when they earn enough money on paper, care costs make their household feel financially strained, and 77% agree that they feel financially behind because of their care responsibilities.

Careers have taken a hit too. 66% agree their career ambitions have been dimmed because of their combined child care and senior care responsibilities. 66% agree they have hidden the full extent of their care responsibilities at work. 55% say they have turned down a promotion, raise, or new opportunity because of care responsibilities, rising to 61% among millennials. 55% have considered leaving the workplace altogether.

Yet, none of this has broken them. 99% of sandwich generation parents report at least one way they have experienced personal growth because of managing both child care and senior care - led by stronger empathy (76%), increased patience and emotional regulation (75%), and better perspective on what matters in life (74%). 90% agree that while caregiving can be challenging, it can also be deeply meaningful and rewarding, and 89% agree that they have become a better, stronger person as a result of being part of the sandwich generation.

What is made clear is that these parents aren't asking to opt out of caregiving. Instead, they're asking to be seen and supported: 87% agree that their responsibilities are invisible to people who are not living through this, and 53% say they do not have the amount of help they need when it comes to taking care of their household and loved ones - a figure that rises to 61% among mothers and 60% among single parents. This is why 96% wish the American care system better supported families who are raising children while also caring for aging parents.

"Nearly every person in this survey told us they have grown because of caregiving - more empathetic, more patient, clearer on what actually matters. That is remarkable, and it deserves to be recognized," said Jill McNamara, VP of Strategic Growth at Care.com and licensed social worker. "These families are carrying an enormous amount, often without enough support and often without anyone acknowledging what they're doing. We're changing that with this report. Sandwich generation parents aren't asking to be rescued. They're asking to be seen and supported, and we're committed to making sure they are."

The full results of The 2026 Sandwich Generation Report can be found here.

About Care.com's 2026 Sandwich Generation Report

The 2026 Sandwich Generation Report was conducted by DKC Analytics on behalf of Care.com between June 22 and June 29, 2026. The survey included 1,000 U.S. adults who are parents of children 14 years or younger and currently hold care responsibilities over both children and senior family members, confirmed by both consumer-matched data and respondent self-confirmation. The survey has a margin of error of ±3.1%. The survey was delivered via the Pollfish platform across mobile and desktop. No post-stratification has been applied to the results.

About Care.com

Care.com is where families go to find care and where caregivers go to find meaningful work. Since 2007, over 45 million people have turned to Care.com-across child care, senior care, adult care, pet care and housekeeping. Whether it's a nanny for your newborn, an assisted living community for your aging loved one, or an adventure buddy for your dog's daily strolls, we're here to make care simpler, smarter and more personal. CareBenefits by Care.com also empowers over 700 companies to provide family care benefits to their employees. HomePay by Care.com makes it easier for families to manage household taxes and payroll.

Media Contact

Natasha Fellion, Associate Director of Communications

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