Who is the Sandwich Generation?

According to AARP, The Sandwich Generation is defined as a group of middle-aged adults who care for both their aging parents/relatives and their own children. Modern American society has had a substantial increase of young adults who continue to live with their parents throughout college and after graduation. Parents of these young adults are being held responsible to care for their children longer than they expected, as well as now also being expected to assume the role of caretaker for their elderly parents/relatives.

Challenges of the Sandwich Generation:

• Financial – Becoming part of the Sandwich Generation can put a huge financial burden on families. On average, 48% of adults are providing some sort of financial support to their grown children, while 27% are their primary support. Additionally, 25% are financially supporting their parents as well.
  
  Some of the adults living in this sandwiched generation face financial problems regularly, having to support three generations at one time: their parents, their immediate family (self and spouse) and children.
• Emotional – Taking care of an elderly parent while caring for your own children is a very time-consuming task. It can affect your personal time as you are no longer able to do the things that you like to do, relax, sleep, etc. When all these tasks start consuming your life, you become at risk for mental health problems. Depression and anxiety are a huge risk factor for the Sandwich Generation, especially for women.

Getting Financial Help

A caregiver helps a person with special medical needs in performing daily activities. Some of those tasks may include shopping for food and cooking, cleaning the house, giving medicine and helping with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, etc.). Many government programs allow family members of veterans and people with disabilities to get paid for caring for them.

• Medicaid Self-Directed Care programs, such as New Jersey’s Personal Preference Program, lets qualified people manage their own health services. It also lets them hire family members as caregivers in some states.
• Veteran-Directed Home and Community Based Services program offers veterans a flexible budget. This allows them to choose goods and services they find most useful, including hiring a family member or neighbor as a personal care aide. These may include the VA Homemaker program.
• Aid and Attendance Benefits for Veterans work in conjunction with a VA pension. These benefits help cover the costs of a caregiver, who may be a family member, or other unreimbursed medical expenses.
• Long-Term Care Insurance allows family members to be paid as caregivers. But some policies won’t pay family members who live with the person they’re caring for. Contact your family member’s insurance agent for more information. You can also ask the agent for a written confirmation of benefits.

Beware The Slow Creep Of Responsibilities – Getting Support

Most caregivers do not plan to help several family members at once. They step in to help during a crisis or take on more responsibilities as a loved one ages. They will expand their time and energy to push past their normal capabilities. That attitude may work in the short term, but taking on more and more caregiving responsibilities can lead to feeling isolated, frustrated and even depressed. It is important to know yourself and your boundaries and reach out for help.

Rather than struggling on your own, take advantage of local resources for caregivers. To get started, contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to learn about services in your community. You can find your local AAA online or in the government section of your telephone directory.

Other things you might consider as an overwhelmed caregiver to get some assistance:

• Join Support Groups
• Ask for Help from Professionals and Family
• Set Personal Goals for Self-Care and Relaxation
• See your Doctor or Mental Health Professional

Other Help:

It may be hard to imagine leaving your loved one in someone else’s care, but taking a break can be one of the best things you do for yourself – as well as the person you’re caring for. Most communities have some type of respite care available such as:

In-home respite. Health care aides come to your home to provide companionship, nursing services or both.

Adult care centers and programs. Some centers provide care for both older adults and young children, and the two groups may spend time together.

Short-term stays. Some assisted living homes, memory care homes and nursing homes accept people needing care for short term stays while caregivers are away.

Sandwich generation caregivers, or double caregivers, need to be extra sensitive to their care receiver’s vulnerabilities and limitations, including their own. It also means accepting that they will not be perfect, and it is ok to ask for help.

The team at Archer Law Office has the perfect combination of staff and experience to handle any crisis situation and provide your family with the stability and guidance you need to help yourself and your loved one.