The sandwich generation consists of individuals who look after both their children and their parents. These people are “sandwiched” between two generations who require almost constant in-home care. There are numerous aspects of this generational label, and it can help both the caregiver and senior citizens to understand what goes into this role.
What Are the Typical Demographics for This Generation?
Most of the time, the sandwich generation consists of people between the ages of 40 and 60. However, a significant portion of people in this group are older than 60 or younger than 40. While women and men can be in this group, it is mostly women who end up being the caregivers. Additionally, affluent individuals, which in this case means people who make more than $100,000 annually, are more likely to care for both parents and children.
What Caused the Rise of the Sandwich Generation?
One reason why more people are responsible for both senior care and child care is due to an increased life span. Due to advances in technology and healthcare, people are living well into their 70s and 80s. There has also been an increase in people who are delaying becoming parents. In the past, most people would start a family in their 20s, but now, many people are starting families in their 30s. This combination means plenty of people have to care for elderly parents and young children.
What Are Some of the Challenges This Generation Face?
Naturally, there is a lot of stress within the sandwich generation because people have to care for two other generations. There is also a lot of financial hardship associated with the role. Many people in this generation need to re-budget or utilize investments to have enough money on-hand for essential purchases. Finally, a lot of people do not have time for their own interests. Regardless of how many responsibilities people have in a given day, it is paramount to take time out of each day for everyone to focus on their own emotional and mental well-being.
Anyone who chooses to be a caregiver for both children and senior citizens is an amazing individual who deserves a ton of praise. With that in mind, everyone could use some assistance every once in a while, and in those cases, it is recommended to contact Home Helpers. We have a number of caregivers who provide in-home care to the elderly, and you can learn more about our array of services by sending in an online contact form.
