A new survey reveals the pressures facing Britain’s “sandwich generation,” with half of adults aged 35–65 who support their ageing parents experiencing regular stress and anxiety.
The research, conducted by NHS-registered online pharmacy PillTime, highlights how many middle-aged Brits are juggling responsibilities for both their children and elderly parents. One in two adults in this age group manages the health of both their ageing parents and their children.
Adults supporting their parents commonly take them to appointments, attend doctors’ visits with them, and collect prescriptions. Managing medications, which includes collection, sorting, and overseeing use, is another frequent responsibility. Carers assisting with medication management spend an average of 5.59 hours per week on these tasks. Over a month, this totals 25.2 hours, roughly three working days based on an eight-hour day, and annually amounts to 291 hours, equivalent to 7.3 full working weeks. Three-quarters of respondents (74%) manually sort their parents’ tablets after collecting them from the pharmacy, raising concerns about potential treatment errors, including missed doses or incorrect administration.
Geographical distance adds further pressure. Adults with ageing parents live an average of 29 miles away, roughly a 30–45 minute drive, while in Greater London and the South West, the average distance rises to 35 miles. One in five adults aged 35–65 (20%) live more than 100 miles from their parents, making remote support more demanding.
Polypharmacy further complicates caregiving. PillTime’s data shows that UK patients aged 60 and over typically take seven or more medications. This increases the risks of side effects, adherence problems, and harmful interactions. Unsurprisingly, 48% of respondents report feeling anxious multiple times a week about managing their parents’ prescriptions, with half regularly feeling overwhelmed.
Peter Thnoia, superintendent pharmacist at PillTime, commented on the findings: “These findings highlight just how much pressure our country’s ‘sandwich generation’ is under, particularly when it comes to managing complex medication routines for ageing parents from a distance. Spending the equivalent of seven working weeks a year sorting and overseeing prescriptions is a huge hidden burden.”
Thnoia added, “What’s especially concerning is how many families are manually sorting multiple medications themselves. With many older adults taking seven or more medicines a day, the risk of missed doses, duplication, or harmful interactions rises significantly. This isn’t about a lack of care but a system placing too much responsibility on already stretched families.”