Is There Help For The Sandwich Generation?

The alarm sounds. It’s 5 a.m. Bleary-eyed, you hit the button on the coffee maker before jumping in the shower. As you throw on some clothes, you check in with your teenagers. Are they dressed? Did they eat? You get them out the door before hopping in the car. Coffee in hand, you make your commute to the place where you’ll be working for the next eight hours or more. The ride back home will be no less demanding. You have to pick up groceries for your parents and visit them to make sure they’ve eaten, paid their bills, and taken their medications correctly. Tomorrow you’ll do it all again. You are a member of the “sandwich generation”. Visit

At Clinique TAGMED , we are the specialists in high-tech care for conditions related to the musculoskeletal system. This reputation comes in part from the fact that we have always known how to adapt to the changing needs of our patients. Our expertise and flexibility have allowed us to establish solid relationships with them. In addition, we have acquired the necessary resources to deliver top quality services that meet the requirements of today’s clientele.

Does this sound familiar?

It might be if you are one of the 29% of U.S. adults caring for children under eighteen years old while simultaneously being the primary caregiver for elderly parents, according to Pew Research Center (Livingston, 2020).

Types of multigenerational caregivers

A multigenerational caregiver is any parent over the age of eighteen who lives with their children (younger than eighteen years old) while providing unpaid adult care. 

Among these multigenerational caregivers we can find:

• The Traditional Sandwich Generation — Adults aged 40 or early 50s “sandwiched” between their elderly parents and their older children who both need financial help or other assistance.
• The Club Sandwich Generation — Older adults in their 50 or 60s who are taking care of their parents and have adult children and possibly grandchildren. This term can also refer to younger adults in their 30s or 40s who have younger children, elderly parents, and aging grandparents.
• The Open-Faced Sandwich Generation — Anyone who’s non-professionally involved in eldercare.

Caregiving responsibilities of multigenerational caregivers

Adult care may include hands-on activities assistance, such as dressing, eating, providing medical care, transportation, helping with house chores or finances, organization, management, or shopping tasks.

Child care may include hands-on assistance, like reading or playing, attending children’s events, helping with homework, playing or talking with children, and more. 

Members of the sandwich generation spend about three hours per day on caregiving duties, split between their children and their parents. Younger parents, who with younger children spend more time on childcare, while older parents spend more providing adult care.

Multigenerational caregivers spend 21 fewer minutes per day sleeping than parents who are not also caring for an adult. 

Who is the typical member of the American Sandwich generation?

Due to stereotypical parenting and gender roles, the typical American Sandwich Generation caregiver is:

• Female
• In her mid-40s
• Married
• Employed

70% of women and only 30% of men adopt the responsibility to care for an elderly relative with chronic health issues.

The sandwich generation is not only about caregiving

Sandwiched Americans, are struggling with a financial pinch as they are more likely to support young adults and in some cases elderly parents (according to pew research (Fry et al., 2020). By July 2020, 52% of 18- to 29-year-olds were living with their parents. In addition to this, it is clear that caregiving expenses have risen during the pandemic.

The number of members in the sandwich generation has increased dramatically, and statistics show that the financial burdens associated with being responsible for multiple generations are rising. Essentially parents are taking care of many of their children’s financial burdens in addition to tending to other non-financial responsibilities.

Additionally, Covid-19 is pushing millennials into the sandwich generation faster than might be expected, in addition to a reduction in family sizes. This means, there will be more only children in the future with no sibling support as they look after aging parents. 

Consequences of being a part of the sandwich generation.

With so many physical, emotional, and financial stressors, the sandwich generation can often experience:

• Caregiver burnout and feelings of depression, guilt, and isolation.
• Issues finding the time to share with their partner, leisure activities, and other relationships. The financial and career stress from caring for children and parents can lead to relationship strain, and sacrificing romantic relationships.
• Psychological issues.

Stress-Release Tips for Members of the Sandwich Generation

Caregiving as a member of the sandwich generation can be exhausting and expensive. Balancing the emotional, logistical and financial aspects is no easy feat. However, the following are some tips that might aid in case you are in this situation:

• Help financially dependent children to find a job and motivate them to practice activities they enjoy.
• Share responsibilities with your siblings. Divide the days to take care of your parents among your siblings, as well as the expenses.
• If possible, consider having your parents move into your home. This will allow you to ease expenses and keep an eye on them without spending time on transportation.
• Set boundaries. Make financial and time agreements with your siblings and other family members and stick to them.
• Invest in a medical alert system to help you monitor your loved ones.
• Give yourself some time to practice activities that you enjoy, like reading, practicing sports, or even some time alone to sleep or rest.
• Prevent. If you think you’ll become your parents’ caretaker in the future, don’t’ wait and start planning, talk to them about their financial situation and develop a plan together for the future. 

Hire An In-Home Caregiver

Provide your parents with part-time or full-time in-home senior care. At 24/7 Nursing Care, our goal is to provide individualized referral services tailored to your needs. Our team is available to speak with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week even on holidays. Give us a call at (786) 518-3622 in Miami-Dade or (954) 949-1332 in Broward.

References:

Fry, R., Passel, J. S., & Cohn, D. (2020, September 9). A majority of young adults in the U.S. live with their parents for the first time since the Great Depression. Pew Research Center. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/09/04/a-majority-of-young-adults-in-the-u-s-live-with-their-parents-for-the-first-time-since-the-great-depression/

Grose, J. (2020, February 19). ‘It’s Pretty Brutal’: The Sandwich Generation Pays a Price. The New York Times. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/parenting/sandwich-generation-costs.html

(n.d.). 4 Tips to Manage Sandwich Generation Stress: Squeezed Between Parents and Kids. Humangood. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.humangood.org/resources/senior-living-blog/sandwich-generation-squeezed-between-parents-and-kids

Hoyt, J. (2021, August 9). The Sandwich Generation. SeniorLiving.Org. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.seniorliving.org/caregiving/sandwich-generation/

Livingston, G. (2020, July 31). More than one-in-ten U.S. parents are also caring for an adult. Pew Research Center. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/11/29/more-than-one-in-ten-u-s-parents-are-also-caring-for-an-adult/

(2020, January 3). Health Care and the Sandwich Generation. Northwest Primary Care. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.nwpc.com/health-care-and-the-sandwich-generation-infographic/

Parker, K., & Patten, E. (2020, July 31). The Sandwich Generation. Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/01/30/the-sandwich-generation/

Ro, C. (n.d.). Why the “sandwich generation” is so stressed out. BBC Worklife. Retrieved April 19, 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210128-why-the-sandwich-generation-is-so-stressed-out