ROOF Blog

The number of middle-aged people caring for their children or grandchildren and looking after their elderly parents – the ‘sandwich generation’ – is likely to grow as projections of a rapidly ageing society were released by the Office for National Statistics. Nearly one in four of the population will be over 65 in less than 25 years, and the number of those over 85 would more than double. There are also additional problems arising from the breakdown of families increasing the number of older single people and the reduction of informal caring.

A YMCA England report has found that 72 per cent of those questioned believe that extra help could prevent the breakdown of family units and stop young people from leaving home. The survey of 50 parents of homeless or formerly homeless teenagers also revealed that 42 per cent of respondents found housing advice the most helpful intervention, particularly independent advice services. A spokesperson from the YMCA said they wanted to get the voices of parents and extended families to understand why young people felt they needed to leave home.