Michelle Leonard-Smith has been with Home by Choice as director of administration since 2009. She can be reached by email at michelle.smith@asipages.com or by phone at 765-362-4020.
The burdens and responsibilities of middle-aged Americans are increasing. Nearly half of adults in their 40s or 50s are “sandwiched” between caring for an aging parent who is 65 years old or older and either financially supporting a grown child or raising a young one.
This rise in the sandwich generation is due to two trends: longer average lifespans and more women choosing to have children later in life. The combination of these two trends means that more and more people will be face with double-duty caregiving. Here are some tips on how to handle the trials of the sandwich generation.
Naturally, caring for two generations of loved ones can put a lot of stress and strain on growing families. Simultaneously juggling the demands of kids and parents is a hard task for even the most organized person. Dinner, homework, shuttling kids to and from activities and tending to an elderly parent who needs special care all require time and energy. Even though you may handle most of the caretaking duties, that doesn’t mean you have to do absolutely everything yourself. Stop stressing and start delegating. Kids can help out with simple chores around the house, siblings can help with financial paperwork or taking people where they need to go.
Another common problem is entirely financial. From health aides, home renovations, medical equipment or even adult day care, caregivers often spend money hand-over-fist to properly take care of their loved one. What’s more, many caregivers end up taking a financial hit from missed work due to their caregiving responsibilities. If this situation arises, talk with your employer and see if your company offers any benefits like child or senior care. Also, ask if you could switch to a more flexible schedule.
Finally, for many people the added stress that caring for a child and parent brings can place an emotional toll on their own life. It can be easy to forget about yourself when caught up in your daily jam-packed schedule. That is why making sure you get exercise, proper nutrition, sleep and regular doctor appointments is so important. If you don’t take care of yourself, you won’t be able to properly take care of others.
And when all else fails, take a step back and breathe. Just being in the moment and enjoying life as it is can help reduce the stress and help you be an even better caregiver.
