Caregiving Is No Picnic For The Sandwich Generation

Generally, the concept of a sandwich is a great thing. Who doesn’t love various ingredients enclosed between two slices of bread? But to some residents of Anamosa and elsewhere, including those who may be receiving palliative care, the term can have more of a negative connotation that describes a certain demographic of those who are taking care of children at the same time they take care of their parents.

The team at Above and Beyond Home Health Care and Hospice have a good deal of experience working with members of the ‘sandwich generation’ and know how challenging it can be.

Parents in their 40s and 50s may have teens or even children in their 20s who still need support, whether it’s a place to stay, financial help, or even health care.

At the same time, they may have parents in the same situation: they may need caregiving, financial help, or other assistance.

The term ‘sandwich generation’ has been in use since the 2010s. A Pew Research study showed that middle-aged Americans are the ones in this group due to various factors including an aging population along with challenging economic conditions for younger people.

About half the adults in this age group have parents who are 65 and older and also have children aged 18 and older, and about 1 in 7 of those surveyed indicated they are offering occasional or regular financial support for both groups. About 27 percent provide primary support.

The combination of aging parents and grown children who need help has grown over the years.

Factors leading to ‘sandwiching’

COVID and the current tight economy have disrupted some of these equations as well.

It has caused more people to lose their jobs and need to move back in with their parents. They could use their home base to look for other work, go back to school, or save money to get their own place again.

The current housing market in many states also may add challenges to this. Their previous place may have sold, or their rent may have increased which makes it unaffordable with their current income.

Even though it can be an inconvenience at times, many parents are glad to be re-connected, especially if some sort of arrangement can be made, such as a child helping with rent, food, or labor around the house.

Sometimes, their parents also may be in similar situations. They may be retired but their rent may have increased higher than they can afford. They may not feel safe in their house anymore due to medical conditions. They may live alone or need extra help with food and chores.

Or they may need more medical care or supervision that family members have offered to provide. They also could move in and still receive visits from a home health provider while a family member provides general caregiving services.

Whatever the case, a parent or parents now finds themselves as the middle part of the ‘sandwich’ and they will be sure to feel pressure from both sides.

Pressure can include the financial sort: they are now supporting more people in the same house with the same amount of money coming in unless either side offers to contribute some of their earnings or government payments.

It can include stress from more people in the house. Even though everyone will try to get along, there are still going to be days when people get angry with each other and need their own space.

Unless specified, this arrangement may go on indefinitely.

A younger person can stay until they can get their own place or find a sustainable job. An older person may stay until they may need more medical care than a home caregiver or even a regularly scheduled home health aide can offer.

Helping the stress

Because more people are dealing with both sides of the sandwich, there are more resources available in many communities. Some include:

• Attend a caregiver support group in your area where you and other parents in similar circumstances can compare notes about different solutions and realize you’re not alone.
• If you have more mouths to feed, you may qualify for more or different types of aid than when your children or parents were living elsewhere. This can include food banks or charitable organizations. There may be more access for youth dependents or seniors who you are providing caregiving for.
• Figure out a caregiving schedule with trusted family and friends. Part of the reason caregivers can burn out is that they feel alone. Even if someone isn’t able to help all the time they can commit to a certain number of hours or days a week.
• Respite care can be a good option for everyone. In most cases, a home health care professional can come and stay with your family members for a few hours or even a day. This gives you the opportunity to do something for yourself, whether it’s running errands or going out and having fun. In some cases, you don’t have to go anywhere but can take a break in your backyard or room. Respite care is a useful option for caregivers and the people who are receiving care.

This month is a perfect time to learn more – July is National Sandwich Generation Month.