Understanding the Sandwich Generation: Balancing Care for Aging Parents and Children

What is the “sandwich generation?” The sandwich generation isn’t a specific generation in the sense of Baby Boomers or Millennials. Rather, this term refers to middle-aged adults generally in their 40s, 50s, or 60s who are caregivers for their senior parents as well as their children or grandchildren. These people are “sandwiched” between their dependent children or grandchildren and their dependent parents.

Approximately 25 percent of the sandwich generation provides financial support to their parents as well as their children. Because of the unique challenges these individuals face, the type of support and resources they require are also unique.

Challenges the Sandwich Generation Is Facing

This group of adults can often feel overextended by responding to the needs of their careers and children as well as providing care for their aging parents. Let’s take a closer look at some of the challenges that are common among the sandwich generation.

Health Concerns

The sandwich generation often experiences significant emotional and physical stress due to being pulled in many directions each day. They’re often overseeing supervision and daily activities for their parents and children while also dealing with financial burdens such as medical costs.

These factors can lead to concerns regarding personal health and well-being; caregiver burnout is a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that can arise in someone who manages the care of another person. Someone who is experiencing caregiver burnout may feel anxious, depressed, tired, stressed, or withdrawn.

There isn’t just one solution for caregiver burnout. Rather, it requires a few strategies in combination with each other, such as making time for self-care, asking for assistance from family and friends, speaking to a healthcare provider, and seeking out a caregiver support group. (We’ll discuss this in more detail below.)

Financial Burdens

Many young adults are moving back in with their parents, meaning the sandwich generation is often supporting both their children and their own parents. Approximately 29 percent of those in the sandwich generation have provided financial support to an adult child as well as to their senior parents.

This can result in finances feeling tight, if not also leading to additional debt. It can help for sandwich generation caregivers to try to set boundaries with those involved, if possible, by setting a specific amount of support each month.

Struggles with Time Management

Those who are part of the sandwich generation are balancing careers, relationships, hobbies, and time for themselves. Caring for children and parents at the same time can significantly impact personal time, and all of these tasks can take a toll on mental health. It can often feel like they’re balancing their time between providing care for their children, family, and work with little to no time for personal well-being. It can also make it difficult to have a social life outside of caregiving duties, and can even impact a caregiver’s marriage. This is where it can be incredibly helpful to seek assistance from family members, friends, or professional caregivers.

Career Impacts

Growing demands at home can lead to exhaustion, which affects caregivers’ health and daily lives as well as the ability to engage in their work and stay productive. They may feel as though they don’t have a work-life balance because of the demands on their time.

Strategies for Balancing Care

Being a member of the sandwich generation can be overwhelming, but there are plenty of resources available to help, including elder care. Remember: You can’t pour from an empty cup. You need to take care of yourself before you can take care of others, and you don’t have to do this alone.

Family and Friends

Divide caregiving responsibilities—don’t be afraid to ask for help with housekeeping tasks, grocery shopping, food preparation, and other chores. This can help alleviate feelings of needing to do everything yourself and also free up time. If you have children and a spouse who can help, it can be beneficial to assign tasks to them to help take things off of your plate. Even something as simple as making dinner a few nights a week can provide relief.

It’s also important to spend quality time with those in your life. For example, schedule time to get lunch or dinner with family or a close group of friends to strengthen your support system.

Professional Caregiving Services

Professional caregiving services can be beneficial for relieving caregivers of some of their tasks so they can attend to their own lives or have some time for rest and recovery. Professional care managers can help you determine if there’s a point at which you may no longer be able to meet your senior parent’s needs and help you explore senior living communities. Remember: Seeking professional caregiving services or helping your loved one transition to a senior living community doesn’t have to be perceived negatively. You’re making these decisions for their safety and well-being.

Caregiver Support Groups

Caregiver support groups are incredibly beneficial and therapeutic because you can get ideas from others who are in the same position you are and share your own stories and feelings in a judgment-free environment.

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