How to Survive the Sandwich Generation – 10 Self-Care Strategies
A Self-Care Checklist for the Sandwich Generation
Members of the sandwich generation may find themselves putting their own needs aside while they're busy taking care of their parents and children. They may struggle to find time to exercise and cook healthy meals for themselves, or they could be missing their own doctor appointments.
Boomerang children, or boomerang kids, are terms used to describe the phenomenon of an adult child returning home to live with their parents for economic reasons after a period of independent living.
Most parents today go beyond this by financially supporting two generations at the same time – their parents, and their children. These individuals are often referred to as the 'sandwich generation', but they can be the last to shoulder this responsibility.
More affluent adults, those with annual household incomes of $100,000 or more, are more likely than less affluent adults to be in the sandwich generation. Among those with incomes of $100,000 or more, 43% have a living parent age 65 or older and a dependent child.
Explore alternatives such as sharing caregiving responsibilities with another family member or loved one. Even a simple 1- or 2-day break can make a huge difference and reduce responsibilities. Professional support may be necessary in many cases.
What Is the Sandwich Generation? ... The sandwich generation is named so because they are effectively "sandwiched" between the obligation to care for their aging parents––who may be ill, unable to perform various tasks, or in need of financial support––and children, who require financial, physical, and emotional support.
Yet No Comments