The term ‘sandwich generation’ refers to a person who is simultaneously caring for their young children and their aging parents. This role has traditionally fallen on the shoulders of the woman, the daughter of the aging mother and father, and the mother of the young children. An impossible task at best, those providing care on both ends of the spectrum are at serious risk of burnout. The caregiver system as a whole  is perilously close to collapse, relying on the tenuous threads of these unsupported, unpaid and predominantly women caregivers.

As the pressures mount and the day to day caring becomes more untenable, the sandwich generation caregivers experience burnout. A known phenomenon, and one that is heavily researched, we know that burnout leads to apathy, depression and even higher incidences of emotional and physical violence toward the person requiring care. The stress of burnout and being stretched too thin negatively impacts interpersonal relationships; with partners, children and the ones they care for. A lack of time for social engagement, leisure and self-care further exacerbates the burnout for the caregiver.

These unsung heroes also experience loss of income, loss of work and loss of opportunity for advancement in their careers. The guilt of never doing enough or being enough is pervasive despite the logistical impossibility of time to do it all.

So what CAN we do?

A focus on proactively preparing your home for aging in place can help in many ways. Firstly, reducing fall risk through home modifications means you will remain free from injury longer and remain independent in your daily tasks. Home modifications allow you to work smarter, not harder, thereby conserving your energy for the tasks you need and want to do for independence at home.

Home modifications can also help to set the home up to accommodate the caregiver.

Examples include:

•  use of automated pill systems to alleviate the need for med distribution by the carer
• Remote video monitoring to keep an ‘eye’ on the situation from home
• Equipment like a hand held shower head and shower chair to reduce the burden on the carer during bathing…
• Electric hospital bed to promote good body mechanics for the caregiver
• The list goes on!

Intergenerational living is an option that can help alleviate the need to be in two places at once. Home and Able can offer guidance on integrating your aging loved one into your home or you into theirs.

We can educate ourselves on community resources for supports. Examples include town nurse models of care, a model that is gaining in popularity through it’s noted successes.

Senior centers and area agencies on aging can often offer case management to alleviate the burden for carers and to many provide short-term respite grants.

We can advocate our local legislators to focus on fiscal support for caregivers through #paidleaveforall  to DO BETTER for our unpaid carers (estimated at 54 million people currently!!)

We can listen in on the leaders – check out this amazing conversation with Ai Jen Poo, a dynamic leader and organizer of the care industry through the National Domestic Worker’s Alliance. You will be amazed to learn about the powerful work women, and especially BIPOC women, have been doing for centuries.

Thank you for reading and informing yourself! Please reach out to see how Home and Able can help!!