This post is sponsored by Homewatch Caregivers of Dallas.
Nearly every working-age person will agree that balancing their career and home life requires exceptional time management and financial organization skills. Add kids to the equation and you have to monitor your schedule and bank account even more strictly. For many of us, yet another factor has to be considered… we’re the primary caregivers for our parents too.
If you are one of the many Americans, typically between 40 and 60, who is responsible for caring for aging parents while supporting one or more children, then you are a part of what is known as “The Sandwich Generation.” The term comes from the idea that you are literally “sandwiched” between the two closest generations with financial, caregiving, and other responsibilities to both parties.
According to the Pew Research Center, just over one of every eight Americans aged 40 to 60 is both raising a child and caring for a parent, in addition to between seven and ten million adults caring for their aging parents from a long distance. US Census Bureau statistics indicate that the number of older Americans aged 65 or older will double by the year 2030, to over 70 million.
While this clever term may seem pretty specific on its own, nationally-recognized “Sandwich Generation expert” Carol Abaya explains that members of this generation can be further categorized into different groups represented by the type of sandwich their familial structure most resembles:
- The Traditional is, in fact, the most basic category. This term describes individuals who are sandwiched between aging parents who need their care and help at the time while also raising their own children.
- The Club Sandwich spans further than the three generations mentioned above. Members of the Club Sandwich category are either 50 – 60 years old and sandwiched between their aging parents, adult children, and grandchildren OR they are merely 30 – 40 years old with the responsibility of caring for both their aging parents and elderly grandparents.
- The Open-Faced classification focuses less on the immediate family, recognizing that nearly anyone can find themselves sandwiched into a caregiving role. This category can include any individual involved in elder care, whether they are family or not.
Member of the Sandwich Club?
How do you find that ever-elusive balance? Most people agree that family is their number one priority, but it can feel nearly impossible to be there at all times for everyone who needs you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all of this responsibility, remember that you don’t have to handle it all alone. In fact, one of the best ways to maintain a harmonious relationship with your parents is by hiring someone else to manage their care so that you can enjoy leisure times together instead. In-home caregivers ensure that your loved one receives the best care available, but they also provide you with valuable time for your family, friends, and career.
The expert staff at Homewatch CareGivers of North Dallas enables you to keep loved ones close rather than moving them to assisted living or a nursing home. Each employee is hand-selected by owner Wendy Raney and clients are expertly matched with their caregiver based on a multi-question compatibility test.
Homewatch CareGivers is dedicated to providing exceptional service and creating personal relationships with every family they work with. If you’re considering home care for a parent or loved one, Wendy’s team would like to get to know you better, and they’re here to help… 24 HOURS A DAY, 7 DAYS A WEEK.
All you have to do is call today to schedule your complimentary in-home evaluation to determine the unique needs of each of your loved-ones. There’s no cost or obligation, and the response Homewatch hears most commonly from their clients is that they wish they had contacted them sooner.
