The cost of caring can add up. As households juggle the demands of raising children while supporting ageing parents, many face a steady stream of additional expenses that stretches well beyond what they anticipated. From prescriptions and specialist appointments to increased grocery bills and home adjustments, the costs can accumulate quickly. To make things worse, time spent away from work to provide care can reduce income and limit career progression.
For people in the sandwich generation, the financial impact of playing multiple roles is emerging as one of the defining pressures of daily life. More than half (57%) of sandwich generation carers say financial support is their most urgent need, and almost one in five (18%) say they are financially stretched, according to a survey* conducted by the Guardian and the wellbeing company Australian Unity in February 2026.
