This rising sandwich generation demographic accounts for around 47% of adults in their 40s & 50s who have a parent 65+. Also, it is supporting a grown child or raising a youngster. 1 in 7 of those adults are monetarily helping their parents and one or more kids. These are three roles the ones in sandwich generation usually falls into:

  • Traditional Sandwich Generation — Generally, adults in their 40s or 50s are sandwiched between elderly parents and typically adult kids who require financial or additional assistance.
  • Club Sandwich Generation — These are older adults in their 50 – the 60s wedged between their adult children, aging parents, and potentially grandchildren. Also, this category may refer to younger adults (30s – 40s) with younger kids, aging grandparents, and elderly parents.
  • Open-Faced Sandwich Generation — Anybody non-professionally involved in senior care, an estimated 25 percent of people, during some point in their lives.

The phrase ‘what is sandwich generation?’ is becoming so commonplace it was added to the dictionary in 2006. But the dictionary doesn’t go over the heavy emotional and financial toll. It being part of this generation may cause caregivers.

What are the stress factors that the sandwich generation faces?

While the number of this generation’s members has dramatically increased, statistics prove that the monetary burdens related to being responsible for several generations are increasing. Interestingly, it isn’t grandparents or elderly parents posing the burden, but instead, their adult kids.

With an increasing number of post-college youths returning home to live with their parents or doing it throughout the school. Now it is estimated that nearly 30 percent of 25 to 34 year old’s live with their parents. It leaves parents caring for many of their kid’s monetary burdens. In addition to handling additional responsibilities, they might bring about.

As if that is not stressful enough, the ones among the sandwich generation are handed double-duty by additionally needing or wanting to care for their aging parents. A role must consider much more their responsibility than caring for adult kids. The stress may become overwhelming whether their parents reside at home, within their home, or in a facility. The burdens of helping with daily tasks, medical costs, legal considerations, and overseeing supervision. Additional concerns may take an emotional and physical toll on top of continuous monetary concerns.

With so much stress, the sandwich generation often can suffer:

  • Psychological problems as they have trouble with being pulled in several directions daily.
  • They have difficulty managing relationships, hobbies, work, and time for themselves.
  • Problems finding time to simultaneously be a good parent, spouse, and child.
  • Caregiver burnout and feeling depressed, guilty, and isolated.

How the Sandwich Generation Can Beat Stress

There are professional counselors, support groups, and assisted living facilities in Missouri City options that may be of assistance for what is the sandwich generation when all resources have been exhausted.

Feeling overwhelmed? Let the caring staff at Optimum Personal Care shoulder some of the responsibility. Give us a call today at 281.565.4144