Sandwich caring: combining childcare with caring for older or disabled relatives

This report presents the findings of a survey exploring the challenges of raising young children alongside supporting older parents or disabled family members. The findings of the survey included that: only 12% of sandwich carers felt they were juggling everything well, over four in ten (42%) were struggling to cope or at breaking point; three quarters (74%) said that caring for both children and older or disabled loved ones had a negative impact on their ability to earn; over two thirds (69%) said they had seen a negative impact on their ability to afford household bills; almost two thirds (63%) said that sandwich caring had taken a toll on their relationship with their spouse or partner; seven in ten (69%) had seen their friendships suffer; and only half of sandwich carers surveyed were able to juggle work and care. The experiences of sandwich carers set out in this report demonstrate that, without support, the pressure of combined caring responsibilities can take a serious toll on families’ health, finances, careers and relationships.