Surviving the Sandwich Generation Years: How Baby Boomers Take Care of Parents and Children

March 9th, 2017 by John Wilson

If you are relatively new to the role of being a caregiver for aging relatives, you may not be familiar with the term “sandwich generation.” Once you discover what it means, you’ll probably be able to relate and will likely realize why there are so many assisted living options in Oklahoma City and nationwide.

It can be emotionally, physically and financially draining to be responsible for all aspects of care for an aging loved one. Fortunately, senior care services in OKC can relieve the burden and lead to a better quality of life for you and everyone else who depends on you.

What Is the Sandwich Generation?

The sandwich generation has nothing to do with being particularly enamored with the handheld lunchtime staple. Sandwich generation is a term coined in the early 1980s by a social worker who noticed an increasingly common phenomenon: more women in their 30s and 40s had the dual role of caring for their children and their aging parents at the same time. A journalist who delved into this scenario created two related terms:

• Traditional sandwich generation scenario: adults caring for their kids and their parents

• Club sandwich generation scenario: adults in their 50s and 60s juggling their aging parents, their adult children and their grandchildren or adults in their 30s and 40s juggling young kids, aging parents and grandparents.

In all scenarios, one caregiver is sandwiched between individuals from different generations who need his or her care. Often, the different generations live together under the same roof, although every family is different. In some cases, this arrangement works well and fosters deeper familial bonds. In others, it’s a source of stress and tension.

If You’re a Caregiver, Getting Organized Will Make Your Life Much Easier

If you’re taking care of two or more generations, you are juggling many responsibilities. Don’t try to remember everything! Create a filing/organizational/family reminder system. What will work for one family may not work for the next. There are online apps to organize your life if you rely heavily on technology. If not, a simple filing system and/or memo board will suffice. Making sure everyone knows what the daily and weekly schedule is and where to find important information and documents will simplify your life.

If You’re Struggling, It’s OK to Ask for Help

You cannot care for others effectively if you don’t care for yourself first. All of that excellent advice you’re providing to your children, parents and possibly your grandchildren? Be mindful of that advice yourself. You need time for yourself to eat healthy foods, partake in physical activity, get enough sleep, make time for your spouse and friends and participate in activities you enjoy. It’s not indulgent, it’s smart. Additionally, don’t ever feel you don’t have options. High-quality, affordable senior housing in OKC does exist.

If you’re a sandwich generation caregiver who is feeling overwhelmed, perhaps it’s time to consider assisted living options in Oklahoma City. If you’ve never researched assisted living, you’ll probably be pleasantly surprised to discover affordable assisted living for seniors does exist and your your loved one will probably find his or her quality of life actually improves in assisted living! If you’d like to learn more, contact us at Village at Oakwood!