'Sandwich generation' parents are struggling with the cost of supporting children and grandparents, research finds

New research reveals the financial strain facing parents supporting both children and ageing parents.

The elder in a wheelchair plays with his family lovingly in the house, the morning sun shines through the glass.

Getty/Jub Rubjob

Published: August 3, 2026 at 12:55 PM

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Many parents are feeling the financial pressure of caring for both their children and their own parents, with new research suggesting that balancing responsibilities across generations is becoming increasingly difficult.

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The findings from Vitality highlight the growing challenge facing the UK's 'sandwich generation,' with many families juggling the costs of raising children while also helping ageing relatives. The research also suggests many households may be unprepared for the financial impact of illness or injury, adding another layer of pressure for busy parents.

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Parents are balancing the costs of two generations

According to the research, around one in seven (14%) of the 2000 parents surveyed say they are financially stretched because they are supporting both their children and their own parents.

Among parents with children under 18:

The findings paint a picture of families trying to manage rising day-to-day costs while also thinking about the needs of older relatives.

Illness could make family finances even harder

The research also highlights concerns about what could happen if a parent became too unwell to work or care for their children.

A quarter (26%) of parents with children under 18 say they would not feel confident they could find reliable additional childcare if illness or injury meant they could no longer look after their child.

That could leave families facing both a loss of income and increased childcare costs at the same time.

Andy Philo, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Vitality, said families are often focused on immediate responsibilities.

Many people are focused on meeting the multiple demands of supporting their families today, which can leave little time or capacity to plan for future financial risks.

Andy Philo, Director of Strategic Partnerships at Vitality

Many parents have not considered income protection

Despite the potential financial impact of becoming unable to work, more than half (57%) of parents say taking out income protection was not something they considered when they had children.

The research suggests this could leave many families more vulnerable if illness or injury affected their ability to earn an income.

Many want to avoid becoming a burden later in life

The study also explored how people feel about their own future care. Nearly two-thirds (62%) say they would feel uncomfortable relying on relatives for financial or care support as they get older.

However, many admit they have not planned for those costs:

More than half (53%) say they would be more likely to choose an insurance product that includes later-life care, although Vitality says awareness of available options remains low.

Introducing the wider findings, Andy said many people have yet to think about how illness could affect their family's finances in the future.

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"The findings highlight how closely linked today's financial pressures and tomorrow's planning decisions have become. While many people are focused on supporting children or ageing parents, fewer have considered how they would cope financially if illness affected their ability to work, or how they might fund their own care needs later in life," he says.

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