According to an article from the Huffington Post, about 1 in 7 middle-aged adults provides financial care to both their children as well as their aging parents (Dolgen, 25 July 2013). Dolgen states that this is not all that surprising considering the following: "While young workers are buried with student loan debt and low wages, the elderly face dual challenges in record-high life expectancy rates and declining retirement savings" (25 July 2013). And on top of this, roughly 40% of middle-aged adults report that both their grown children and aging parents rely on them for emotional support (Dolgen, 25 July 2013). Having to be the emotional and financial rock of the family can be a huge burden and creates a lot of added stress for these caregivers. It is important that this particular population doesn't experience burn-out because they are some of the front lines in caring for the older adults. That's why it is so important for us as social workers and clinicians to understand the issues and stressors for sandwich generation caregivers so we can give them the proper resources and support they need to care for the older adults in their lives.
Here are a couple of graphs that help give visualization to some of the statistics of the Sandwich Generation.
For more information regarding the general profile of sandwich generation caretakers, take a look at this article: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/01/30/the-sandwich-generation/
July is Sandwich Generation Month, so this is a perfect time to be doing a post on this particular subject. I came across another blog on aplaceformom.com where there was a post on "Honoring Caregivers" as a result of it being Sandwich Generation Month. The blogger, Stevenson, posted a few tips on how to ease caregiver burden that I wanted to share on here:
Tips to Ease the Caregiving Burden
Financially and emotionally, being a Sandwich Generation caregiver can be a source of strain, despite the intangible rewards. So what can caregivers do to manage their time, relationships and budget? Here are a few tips from the experts:1. Hold family meetings.
Caregiving doesn’t have to be a one-person show. Today’s Caregiver magazine suggests splitting up the task list each week so everyone is clear on expectations and what needs to be accomplished. Setting an action plan for the future can really help, too, says Kiplinger.com — especially if there are prospective financial challenges to manage, such as selling an elderly parent’s house.
2. Ask for professional assistance.
Resources such as a local social worker, the Area Agency on Aging, or the U.S. Health and Human Services website, LongTermCare.gov, can help you figure out the logistics of caring for children and senior parents at the same time. Similarly, Kiplinger suggests getting in touch with a financial planner or accountant to figure out the realities of your budget. Doing this ahead of time, if you anticipate needing to care for elderly parents, can help fend off monetary difficulties down the road.
3. Plan ahead with your kids.
The Kiplinger website suggests getting children into the savings habit early. For adult children, they should make sure to contribute to a retirement plan, even if they are still relying on some support from you. When kids have to move back home, it can be difficult to think about charging them rent, but setting financial boundaries is key to managing a multigenerational household budget. Of course, an emergency is a different story, but if your children need long-term support, it’s time for another family meeting!
4. Don’t forget to care for yourself.
Caring for the caregiver is critical — staying healthy, eating right and getting enough rest means you’ll be in tip-top shape to care for your loved ones at home. But don’t be afraid to slow down, either, if your body is clamoring for a break. See a health care professional or look into a few days of respite care to enable yourself to recuperate.
References
Dolgen, E. (25 July 2013). The Sandwich Generation: Caring for Children and Parents. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ellen-sarver-dolgen/the-sandwich-generation_b_3636774.htmlParker, K & Patten, E. (30 January 2013). The Sandwich Generation: Rising Financial Burdens for Middle-Aged Americans. Retrieved from http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/01/30/the-sandwich-generation/
Stevenson, S. (1 July 2014). Honoring Caregivers: July is Sandwich Generation Month. Retrieved from http://www.aplaceformom.com/blog/2013-07-02-honoring-caregivers-sandwich-generation-month/
Thanks for your post about caregivers, Megan! It is imperative to offer support for external factors, such as caregivers, so heavily influential to the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of older individuals. When considering the aging population, think of the impact this change in roles has on the individuals who are now the care-receivers. The social roles are switched, as now the adult child is taking on a hefty role of ensuring that their parent is safe, in addition to physically and mentally healthy. It can take a toll on older individuals' self-image and mental health as they struggle to redefine themselves with new rules and an increase of reliance on the same individuals they raised. When looking at this issue through the lens of Robert Havighurst's Continuity Theory, older adults need to maintain their social roles and interactions into adulthood in order to have optimal aging. However, this can be difficult when physical and cognitive impairments act as a barrier for aging adults to be able to continue their activities from younger adulthood. I think it's crucial to support caregivers, but helping professionals must also realize that older adults may experience negative impacts to their mental health in these situations, such as viewing themselves as a burden to their adult children who have responsibilities and stress outside of caring for their aging parent.
ReplyDeleteHey Leah, thank you so much for your insight! You bring up a lot of great points and I love that you brought in another perspective regarding this topic. When I wrote this post, I wasn't even thinking about the perspective of the care-receivers and how this situation might impact their own self-esteem/self-image and how this whole role reversal might play out for them. Thanks for your thoughts!
DeleteI agree that the sandwich generation is an important population to consider when working with aging adults. Just like the oxygen bags in an airplane, a person can't assist in caring for their loved one if they aren't first caring for themselves, however there is a stigma attached with taking time for oneself that often leads to caregivers feeling selfish. There is a strong need for normalization of these feelings so that caregivers can feel validated in their need to escape. I especially like the advice to plan ahead with your kids. It might be uncomfortable to discuss a parent's physical or mental decline, but planning in advance gives the parent the opportunity to clarify what care they would like and how it should be done, removing additional stress from the caretaker. Likewise, the caregivers get to voice concerns in advance so that the family can find solutions together. Excellent post!
ReplyDeleteKristin--you bring up a great point about the need to validate and normalize a caregiver's desire to take some time to themselves amidst caring for an aging parent. I agree that can be put caretakers in a difficult spot and these feelings can just add to the burden that they are already dealing with. Self-care is so so important, though, and we have to help caretakers to understand this. I love your analogy with the oxygen bags on airplanes; that is a perfect comparison! Thanks for your comment.
DeleteHi Meghan,
ReplyDeleteI would consider myself a member of the sandwich generation because I'm the only one in position to assist the family when various needs arise. My mother is 68 years old retired with various retirement funds and checks shrinking as the government cutbacks on her benefits. My sister (the oldest) is 100% disabled who I assist taking care of through my mother financially. As for my daughter, I have had to help her out numerous times in keeping her head above water due to bad decisions that she has made. Sometimes I do feel like I'm being pulled in all different types of directions as I try to meet the needs of the family. I do realize that I can't take care of everything for everyone and try to talk to each individually to point out where they can help me more. I'm hoping that one day my mother will agree to move in with me and my wife so that we can take the stress of the family off of her. As for my sister she would have to go into an assisted living home where she can receive care around the clock. For my daughter the best I can do is continue to offer advise and direction as she begins her life as an adult. The stress does sometimes get to me where I have to call a family meeting to discuss where the others can help make things a little bit easier to deal with. The biggest hurdle is getting everyone to do their part. Thank you for providing the list of easing the caregiver burden. It has given me a couple of things to think about and utilize as I continue to help the family. I'm the youngest of three but am also considered the unofficial head of the family since I'm the one in position to help the most.
Lee
Hi Lee,
DeleteThank you so much for sharing a personal story regarding this topic! I really appreciate it and hope others do too because it helps put a picture and give a face to this struggle that so many other just like you live with on a daily basis. I admire people like you so much and thank you for your love and commitment to your family. The care that people of the sandwich generation give day in and day out is so much work and often goes un-thanked. My own mother is currently in this situation with my grandmother and her adult children so I have also seen the stress that this can cause. I'm glad that the list of suggestions to ease caregiver burden was helpful to you and I hope that all your family members can come together to give you the support you need. Thanks again for sharing and I wish the best for you and your family.