The Sandwich Generation: You Could Be Paying $10,000 a Year on Caregiving

Research confirms it: the Sandwich Generation (ages 40-55), taking care of both kids and parents, is being squeezed like never before. With out-of-pocket costs climbing to roughly $10,000 a year and time demands exceeding 1,300 hours, caregiving is quietly reshaping careers, finances, and daily life—especially for women. This week, to cap off our series on personal finances, Mike and Andrew focus on practical ways to ease the burden. Afraid of asking for help from friends and family? Get over yourself. Look for underused public resources for seniors. Look into your employer benefits and flexible scheduling. Without more openness and shared responsibility, the stress will only get worse.