We hear about Boomers. Millennials. Gen Z with their trends and side hustles. But what about the group no one is talking about enough?
The Sandwich Generation.
These are the people quietly juggling life in both directions. Raising kids. Caring for aging parents. Holding down jobs, managing households, handling paperwork, and putting their own dreams on pause in the process.
No hashtags. No medals. Just real life, every day, under pressure.
And the weight is getting heavier.
Stuck in the Middle, and It Is Not Getting Easier
More adults are finding themselves in this role every year. The numbers are rising and the reasons are clear.
By 2034, the number of Americans over age 65 will outnumber those under 18 for the first time in U.S. history.
People are living longer, but many have complex health needs that require care, support, and supervision. Meanwhile, the costs of housing, healthcare, college, groceries, and child-care keep climbing.
This generation is not just tired. They are the default safety net for a system that was never built to support three generations of financial and emotional needs all at once.
What It Really Looks Like…
Kait Giordano, 34, is caring for a newborn, managing a full-time job, and helping two parents with dementia. She comments, “There are days I feel like I am failing everyone.” (Wall Street Journal, 2024)
Diana Fuller, 49, turned down a promotion to care for her aging mother. Her career paused, and with it, years of income and retirement growth. (Wall Street Journal, 2024) These are just a few examples. There are countless others.
According to Aging Options, someone contributing $1,500 per month to a parent’s care for five years could lose more than $1 million in long-term financial impact. That money could have grown in a retirement account or earned employer matches and advancement opportunities.
A 2023 PubMed study found that Sandwich Generation caregivers experience higher rates of burnout than those caring only for children or only for parents.
When the Pressure Builds, Housing Becomes the Breaking Point
Here is where everything comes to a head; housing.
It might be a parent who wants to stay in their longtime home, even though it is too big, too expensive, or no longer safe.
It might be an adult child who cannot buy a home because they are financially supporting parents or managing their own debt.
Or what is becoming more and more common, a family is trying to make multi-generational living work. They are sharing space across generations, even though privacy and emotional bandwidth are stretched thin.
At some point, someone’s home becomes part of the solution…or part of the problem.
That could mean selling a parent’s home to fund care, transitioning to assisted living, or modifying your own home to serve as a care-giving base. Downsizing, relocating, or tapping into home equity might offer the financial relief or flexibility your family needs.
When families delay these conversations, they often face stress, financial strain, and rushed decisions during a crisis.
Five Practical Moves to Lighten the Load
1. Start the housing conversation early. Whether it is your parents’ home or your own, the earlier you talk about options, the more control you have.
2. Be thoughtful about multigenerational living. A separate entrance or dedicated suite can preserve privacy and harmony under one roof.
3. Use home equity strategically. Reverse mortgages, bridge loans, or traditional sales can fund care and protect your financial future.
4. Build a real family care plan. Discuss roles, expectations, and what will happen with the home before urgency sets in.
5. Work with professionals who understand senior transitions. The right advisor helps navigate not just the sale, but the emotional and logistical maze that comes with it.
The Real Value Is Not the House…It Is the Plan
If you are carrying the emotional, physical, and financial weight of multiple generations, what you need most is not another task.
You need a plan.
A senior-focused real estate advisor is not just someone who lists homes. They understand the pressure you are under and how to create clarity from the chaos.
They can:
This is not just about selling a house. It is about protecting peace of mind and helping your family move forward with dignity and control.
You are not stuck. You are just ready for a better plan. If you don’t plan your life, life will create a plan for you…and you may not like that plan. Let’s start the conversation before the next crisis decides for you.
