Couples delay retirement under $48,000 support burden for parents and adult children
Updated
Updated · 24/7 Wall St. · May 10
Couples delay retirement under $48,000 support burden for parents and adult children
15 articles · Updated · 24/7 Wall St. · May 10
One late-50s couple earning about $185,000 spends roughly $2,800 monthly on an 88-year-old mother and $1,200 on a 32-year-old child.
The after-tax drain can consume peak retirement-saving years, potentially pushing retirement from 65 into the early 70s by diverting money from 401(k) catch-up contributions and health savings.
About one in four US adults are in the sandwich generation, while average combined senior and child care costs reach $1,380 a week and caregiving inflation outpaces wages.
With elder care costs soaring and social safety nets strained, are American families prepared for the coming care cliff?
As caregiving costs women $295,000 in lifetime earnings, what systemic solutions can address this gendered financial crisis?
Can new technology and housing models offer real solutions where traditional financial advice for squeezed families is failing?
The Sandwich Generation Crisis: 25% of U.S. Adults Face Rising Financial and Emotional Strain
Overview
In 2026, the sandwich generation faces growing financial and emotional pressures as more people have children later in life. This leads to a prolonged period of caring for both aging parents and young children, giving them less time to recover financially. The high cost of care services, such as expensive adult day care, forces many to divert funds from their own retirement savings and family needs. As a result, their long-term financial security is undermined, making it harder to save for the future and increasing the overall strain on their well-being.