XGEN_sandwich

Sandwich Generation Spent Financially, Emotionally, and Physically

For Gen Xers, who are members of the Sandwich Generation, the unique challenges of supporting the emotional, physical, and financial needs of their children and parents can be unrelenting. In response, AAG surveyed more than 1,500 people, ages 40 to 60, with at least one living parent and child, to gain more insight into how they are coping. Here are their responses:

Caught in the Middle

RESULTS: Slightly more than 7 of 10 (70.50%) survey respondents said they take care of at least one parent emotionally, physically, or financially.

Gen Xers face a full plate of caregiving obligations.

RESULTS: Two-thirds (66.53%) of sandwich-generation parents still have children living at home.

RESULTS: More than three-quarters (77.56%) of survey respondents said they felt “sandwiched” in terms of their obligations to their family and parents.

Stressed Out

RESULTS: More than 68% (68.52%) of sandwich survey respondents said they felt very stressed or stressed in meeting their financial obligations to their family and parents.

RESULTS: More than 7 of 10 (72.29%) sandwich survey respondents said they anticipate covering the costs of an aging parent.

Financial concerns extend beyond just family.

RESULTS: Over 70% (72.75%) of survey respondents said they had discussed their parents’ financial needs with them in the last year.

RESULTS: More than 60% (60.91%) of survey respondents said it was common for them to have to choose between their parental caregiving responsibilities and their job.

Exhausted

RESULTS: Nearly 8 of 10 (78.97%) survey respondents said their parental caregiving responsibilities sometimes left them feeling emotionally exhausted.

RESULTS: More than 70% (71.39%) of survey respondents said they sometimes felt physically exhausted from their parental caregiving responsibilities.

RESULTS: Similarly, more than 64% (64.43%) of survey respondents said they feel financially exhausted with their parental caregiving responsibilities.

RESULTS: 4 out of 10 survey respondents (44.06%) had parents who had mentioned that they had not planned on “living this long".

A significant majority of survey respondents reported feeling exhausted at times due to their parental caregiving responsibilities.

Caught in the Middle

RESULTS: Slightly more than 7 of 10 (70.50%) survey respondents said they take care of at least one parent emotionally, physically, or financially.

RESULTS: Two-thirds (66.53%) of sandwich-generation parents still have children living at home.

RESULTS: More than three-quarters (77.56%) of survey respondents said they felt “sandwiched” in terms of their obligations to their family and parents.

Gen Xers face a full plate of caregiving obligations.

Survey Results

Frustrated

RESULTS: Close to half (46.92%) of survey respondents said that caring for a parent had delayed their getting married, having children, attending college, purchasing a home, or other similar life event.

RESULTS: As a caregiver of a parent, a majority (62.09%) of survey respondents said their frustrations were mounting.

RESULTS: More than half (51.93%) of survey respondents said their parents had asked for help with expenses.

RESULTS: Nearly half (49.28%) of survey respondents said their parents had delayed retirement because they couldn’t afford to stop working.

Caring for aging parents can have significant impacts on the personal lives of Gen X children. The role of caregiver was also found among a majority of respondents to be a source of mounting frustration.