LONDON, England — A new study on the health toll incurred by caregivers of aging parents, the elderly and children have shown that at the same time, the job or responsibility incurs a 'significant' toll on carers' health.

According to a research conducted by experts from the University College London, being a ‘sandwich carer’ with both older and younger dependents causes a decline in overall mental and physical wellbeing.

The study, done in urban centers across the United Kingdom, based their assumptions on the estimated 1.3 million people in the UK who juggle the responsibilities of caring for older relatives while raising children under 16 years old, with numbers rising as people live longer.

Researchers analyzed the health of some 2,000 sandwich carers and 2,000 other adults from the UK Household Longitudinal Study between 2009 and 2020 and this has prompted further studies to determine the resulting illl-effects on health.

They tracked both groups over nine years during that time, using questionnaires focused on the periods before, during and after becoming a sandwich care and then used statistical models to predict health changes and compared the two groups. They also examined whether the amount of caregiving hours and gender affected these health changes.

Mental health was measured using a questionnaire which included questions such as whether the parents had recently had issues concentrating, sleeping or had been feeling under strain.

The researchers found that parents who became sandwich carers experienced a significant decline in their mental health – especially those dedicating more than 20 hours per week to caregiving, which persisted for several years. There was also a deterioration in their physical health during this transition compared with non-sandwich carers.

In view of the study's initial results, Dr. Baowen Xue, lead author from UCL Epidemiology and Health Department, highlighted the significant mental and physical health challenges faced by sandwich carers even as she underscored the need for society to recognize and support the unique challenges faced by sandwich carers.

"Providing targeted support and resources, such as access to respite care and workplace flexibility, is crucial to help maintain their health and well-being, particularly for those offering intensive care," she pointed out.