It’s an honor to be the person your senior parent trusts and counts on to be their caregiver. But for many adult children, it can feel like there’s a lot on your plate, and balancing several different demands on your time can be quite challenging.
Welcome to the world of the “sandwich generation.”
What does it mean to be in the sandwich generation? These individuals care for both a senior parent and a younger dependent. If you’re a member of this generation, you feel “sandwiched” between all of your various responsibilities. You have unique challenges, and, therefore, the resources, support, and strategies you implement also have to be unique.
How to Juggle Caring for a Senior Parent and Children
Caring for your parents and raising your children can be challenging, but there are resources available to provide support. Here are some strategies to help bring more balance to your caregiving responsibilities.
Ask about work flexibility.
Flexible work arrangements can be beneficial as you balance being a sandwich generation caregiver. Be honest with your boss about your demands at home, and see if other arrangements can be made, such as working flexible hours or working remotely.
The Family and Medical Leave Act enables qualified employees of eligible employers to take job-protected, unpaid leave for specific family or medical reasons while still being covered by insurance. The act entitles qualified employees to 12 weeks of leave within a 12-month period.
Seek professional caregiving help.
Seeking assistance from professional caregivers can be quite helpful, enabling you to attend to your career or other facets of your life or give yourself time to recharge.
There are different levels of services professional caregivers can provide. For example, respite care gives a family caregiver a break to attend to other responsibilities, but there are higher levels of care services — such as skilled nursing — that other professional caregivers can help with.
Professional care managers can also help you determine the point at which you may no longer be able to address your parent’s unique needs and can assist you with exploring options for senior living.
We understand that it can be difficult, but try not to view the decision to seek professional caregiving help negatively. Remember you’re doing this for your parent’s well-being.
Prioritize tasks.
Thinking about the big picture can feel overwhelming. Staying organized and making to-do lists can be helpful. Post your to-do list in a visible place and cross items off as they’re completed.
It can also help to break down large tasks into smaller ones. It may bring more structure to the day and help you recognize what needs to be done today and what can wait. It can also help others — and yourself — see what you need help with.
Manage your time.
Time is your most valuable resource right now, and you can’t get it back. So, when you’re creating your to-do lists, consider the amount of time that you want to devote to caregiving tasks and how to make better use of your time. For example, if you have to drop off your children at soccer practice but also have errands to run, it can help to do it all at once while you’re out instead of making several trips in one day.
Get help from family and friends.
You’re not alone in this, and you don’t have to do it all on your own (even though you may feel like it). Don’t be afraid to ask for help from your spouse, friends, and other family members, and ask your parent, children, or grandchildren for help with tasks they are able to do.
Asking for assistance when you need it can help relieve feelings of having to do everything on your own and can also help others see that you need help, which could lead to them offering their assistance. If you’re not sure where to start, it can be as simple as delegating tasks such as handling meal preparation or grocery shopping.
How Independent Senior Living Can Help Sandwich Generation Caregivers
One of the options to ensure your senior parent has the support they need is independent senior living.
Independent living communities can offer your senior parent a fulfilling quality of life and around-the-clock support that can be challenging to receive at home. These communities offer delicious and healthy meals, opportunities to meet new friends, and activities, events, and amenities that help them thrive and keep them engaged. Independent senior living can also help shift the relationship between you and your parent back to a parent-child relationship instead of one that’s based on caregiving.
Is Now the Right Time to Consider Independent Senior Living Options?
It can be difficult to know if it’s the right time to consider independent living options and if independent senior living is the right choice. To learn more about your options and better understand what to expect in an independent living community, take our quick, free assessment.
