The "Sandwich Generation"

The “baby boomers” are the generation born after World War II, from 1946 through 1964.  The succeeding cohort, born from 1965 through 1980, has been dubbed “Generation X,” or Gen X for short.  They are the folks age 46 to 61 this year.

The CPA Practice Advisor recently reported on a survey of 1,000 Gen X workers and their experiences with caregiving.  This included taking care of minor children (24%), adult children (23%), or older adults, such as parents or in-laws (17%).  Of those who are caring for aging relatives, some 37% are also taking care of minor or adult children—hence, the “sandwich generation.”

            Caregiving involves a range of routine responsibilities, such as:

            • providing housing;

            • buying groceries;

            • financial support;

            • paperwork management;

            • managing medical appointments and insurance;

            • managing medications;

            • personal care, such as bathing and dressing.

It can be time-consuming work, almost like a second job without the pay.  Some 12% of respondents spend more than 30 hours per week on caregiving, while 31% spend up to 15 hours.  There is a pronounced negative impact on the workplace, with 54% reporting that caregiving increases their stress and risk of burnout, 40% have interruptions during the workday for appointments or emergencies, and 37% find it difficult to start and complete their work on time.

Costs are also measured in money.  Some 19% reported tapping their emergency savings to cover caregiving expenses, 18% used their credit cards, and 17% reduced their retirement plan contributions.  Switching to a lower-paying but more flexible job was the solution for 12% of respondents, and 10% reported turning down a promotion because it would have interfered with caregiving responsibilities.

(August 2026)

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