Caring for children and ageing parents hits health

'Sandwich carers' suffer big decline in mental wellbeing

- Stephen Beech

PEOPLE who care for both children and older relatives suffer with their mental and physical health, a study has warned.

It is estimated that there are 1.3 million so-called "sandwich carers" juggling the responsibilities of caring for ageing parents or older relatives while raising children under the age of 16.

And the number of people in that situation is growing due to longer life expectancy and women having children later in life, say scientists.

Researchers from University College London analysed data from around 2,000 sandwich carers and 2,000 non-sandwich carers from the UK Household Longitudinal Study 2009 to 2020.