If you’re caring for ageing parents while still supporting your own children, you’re not imagining it you’re part of a rapidly growing group in Australia often called the sandwich generation. More than 1.5 million Australians are living this experience, and if you’re in your 40s or 50s, it’s highly likely you’re feeling the squeeze too.
And let’s be honest, it’s a lot to juggle.
By 2030, one in five Australians will be aged 65 or older, meaning more families will find themselves managing responsibilities on both sides of the age spectrum. Many are also embracing multigenerational living, with UNSW City Futures Research Centre finding that 20% of Australians now live in multigenerational households.
While having multiple generations under one roof can create connection and shared wisdom, it also brings emotional, financial, and logistical pressure that can weigh heavily on families.
What the sandwich generation looks like today
The original definition — adults raising children under 18 while caring for parents over 65 — has expanded as Australia has changed.
Today:
- Australians are living longer, often into their 80s and 90s
- Parents are having children later, frequently in their 30s
- Young adults are staying at home well into their mid-20s
This means people from their early 30s to their early 60s can now find themselves balancing the needs of two generations at the same time.
As demographer Mark McCrindle explained on SBS Insight, many 50-somethings still have dependent kids at the exact time their parents begin needing more support, stretching the caring role much longer than in previous generations.
Why women feel the squeeze the hardest
Despite shifts in modern household roles, women continue to carry most of the caring responsibilities.
Research shows:
- 54% of families say the woman is the primary carer for children
- Only 4% report the man as the main child-rearer
This imbalance carries into elder care as well.
Dr Michelle O’Shea from the University of Western Sydney found that:
- 91% of sandwich-generation carers are women
- 40% of these women are also in paid employment
She also discovered that many women don’t even identify as carers, meaning they often miss out on financial support, leave entitlements or family help that could reduce their load. This contributes to the fact that women in this life stage report the lowest life satisfaction of any female age group.
A white paper by Australian Seniors reinforces this, showing 61% of women struggle to balance personal life with caring duties, which affects not only wellbeing but long-term career earnings and superannuation.
The real impact of being “in the middle”
Being the “sandwich meat” can mean:
- Managing parents’ appointments, medications and finances
- Helping your kids with schooling, expenses and emotional needs
- Holding down a job
- Maintaining a household
- Trying to plan for your own financial future and retirement
For many women, this results in:
- Reduced work hours
- Fewer opportunities for promotions
- Slower superannuation growth
- Increased stress and burnout
This stage is demanding but it doesn’t have to derail your financial wellbeing or your personal goals.
How Fowler’s Group can help lighten the load
Caring for two generations at once is a unique pressure, but the right financial strategies can help you reclaim confidence, stability, and control.
- Practical steps for managing caring-related financial pressures
- Strategies to protect your long-term financial independence
- Guidance on building wealth even with reduced work capacity
- Tools to support your wellbeing and decision-making
You don’t need to carry everything alone. With the right plan in place, it’s possible to support the people you love and still build the life you want.
