9 in 10 over-50s Aussie carers are facing care burnout

A report commissioned by Australian Seniors has highlighted the care burnout risk of those in the ‘sandwich generation’ — who juggle caring responsibilities for both their parents/in-laws and their children/grandchildren. The Sandwich Generation Report 2025 involved a quantitative online survey gathering 4533 responses from Australians 50 years and older who have current or anticipatory caregiving responsibilities. It found nine in 10 (90%) of those surveyed experiencing caregiving burnout. In the report, almost half (48%) of over-50s said caregiving affected their ability to connect with friends and participate in social activities — a figure that rose to almost three in five (58%) for those simultaneously caring for both parents and children.

“The constant juggling act often leads to prioritising the needs of others, with nearly two in five (38%) either frequently (28%) or always (10%) putting their own needs last,” Australian Seniors said in a statement on the report’s findings. “This self-sacrifice is even more pronounced among women, where about three in 10 (31%) frequently and 13% always prioritise caregiving over personal needs.” In the case of caring for aging parents or in-laws, a range of support-types provided were identified, including companionship (61%), transportation to appointments and errands (62%), and emotional support (66%).

The report revealed some serious health and wellbeing impacts of caregiving, with seven in 10 (70%) over-50s carers experiencing physical symptoms linked to caregiving a few times a month or more. Common impacts included physical exhaustion (45%), sleep disturbances (46%) and emotional exhaustion (47%) — with close to two in five (36%) reporting considerable to extreme stress levels affecting their emotional wellbeing. Further, nearly two in three (65%) Australian seniors currently caring for parents or in-laws reported being either somewhat (47%) or very (18%) concerned about the long-term impacts on their mental and/or physical wellbeing.

CEO of Carers Australia, Annabel Reid, offered three key tips for carers to help them prioritise their own needs while juggling caring responsibilities. “First, ask yourself when your last GP appointment was — and consider making another. Prioritise your own wellbeing. Second, take a step back and think about the stress in your life and in caring for another. Recognising that stress is a realistic first step. Third, identify someone in your network you can turn to for support. Carers often find this helps them cope and are surprised by how many others have had similar experiences.”

You can read the full report here, via the Australian Seniors website.

Carer Gateway is an Australian Government program providing free services and support for carers. Call Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737 or visit CarerGateway.gov.au to register for support.

Image credit: iStock.com/fizkes