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The unique problems facing Canada’s sandwich generation: Integrated advisory. The Unique Problems Facing Canada’s Sandwich Generation | Integrated Advisory. (2022, June 27). https://www.wealthco.ca/posts/the-unique-problems-facing-canadas-sandwich-generation

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The Unique Problems Facing Canada's Sandwich Generation | Integrated Advisory

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The term 'sandwich generation' was coined in 1981 by two social workers who noticed the particular challenges that the generation of those middle-aged individuals who were responsible not only for raising their children, but were also responsible for caring for their aging parents. Sandwiched in between two attention-requiring generations, hence the term.

Chartwells reports that Canadians between 45 - 64 provide 75% of informal care for older adults. Those Canadians who are caring for a parent (or parents) spend, on average, between 5 - 30 hours per week completing informal caregiving duties. Pile on to that childcare responsibilities and work obligations, and it can start to lead to some serious burnout. And that doesn't even consider the financial stresses that the sandwich generation needs to contend with.

"Financial obligations are typically higher as they are looking after two generations," Howard Wong, an Investment Counsellor with WealthCo, points out. "Each generation has different needs. For example, members of the sandwich generation are at an age where they are paying more to raise children and help with their educational costs. And then their parents are also at the age where they may need some support financially if the parents haven't planned for their later years. Longevity is a huge issue."

If one's parent or parents are in ailing health, assisting with medical appointments and treatments can be time-consuming and costly. All of this in addition to the standard living expenses that this demographic may already be struggling with including mortgages, student loans, and vehicle payments.

For those who are currently struggling with the financial repercussions of being a member of the sandwich generation, Wong shares the following strategies.

"Get educated financially and embrace financial planning - ideally with a knowledgeable and competent financial professional. Discipline, creating budgets and systems, and automation are critical to one's financial health, and the right financial planner will help with all of this."

While this is sound counsel for those in the throes of caring for an aging parent, the best course of action involves proactively planning for this very likely eventuality.

"Have an open and honest conversation about what the expectations are for the standard of living and care when parents age," Wong recommends. "Different standards of living have different costs and potential social programs to address and support those costs. Do your parents feel comfortable with having their costs covered by their children, or do they worry about being a burden? Are the adult children financially capable of meeting these wishes and at what cost to them and the next generation? How will this impact the family tree down the line?"

Canadians have the sixth highest life expectancy rate in the world (at 81.2), coming in behind Japan (83), Switzerland (82.3), Italy (82.1), Australia (81.6), and Sweden (81.4). Just fifty years ago the average Canadian could expect to live to 71. This paints a picture of a society in which living expenses are needed for a whole lot longer than they were a few decades ago. And life expectancy is expected to continue getting higher and higher. By the time we hit the turn of the 22nd century, the average Canadian will live to be over 90 years old.

Planning for parental aging extends beyond the financial conversations. It's equally important to have those tough conversations about their wishes.

"Discussing parents wishes ahead of time is a must-do," Wong cautions. "The last thing anyone wants is to be having to make difficult decisions at the eleventh hour when emotions are running high. Wills, powers of attorney, personal directives - all of these need to be in place."

On the other side of the sandwich, you have your offspring, and the financial costs associated with child rearing. Prudent planning is also needed to ensure you are able to continue to provide for your family and meet their needs.

"Plan ahead and map out what finances look like. New parents sometimes don't recognize the drop in income from parental leave, or from potentially having a parent leave the workforce for an extended period of time. Childcare costs, saving for education, risk management costs, and other ancillary costs, add up like you wouldn't believe, so be realistic and have your eyes wide open about your financial situation."

WealthCo's Integrated Advisory team understands that it's not merely financial planning; it's life planning. If you are interested in further discussing your life plan, reach out and experience the peace of mind that planning provides.
A member of WealthCo's Integrated Advisory community, Howard Wong is a seasoned investment professional driven to building relationships, achieving his targets, and solving problems. Howard is an Investment Counsellor with WealthCo and is a lifelong learner dedicated to providing value-add to financial products and services. The Integrated Advisory community consists of a network of progressive CPA firms, along with best-in-class professional advisors, service, and product specialists, who work together to deliver an elevated and holistic client experience. One that optimizes both their personal and professional lives with an integrated financial strategy designed to help clients reach their goals.

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The Unique Problems Facing Canada's Sandwich Generation | Integrated Advisory

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Canadians who are caring for a parent (or parents) spend, on average, between 5 - 30 hours per week completing informal caregiving duties. Pile on to that childcare responsibilities and work obligations, and it can start to lead to some serious burnout. And that doesn't even consider the financial stresses that the sandwich generation needs to contend with.

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Around 5-30 hours is dedicated to taking care of their elderly parents on-top of their job and time spent with children.

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Williams, C. (2019, October 8). The Sandwich Generation. Consumer policy research database - Office of Consumer Affairs (OCA) - Consumer issues - Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada. http://www.ic.gc.ca/app/oca/crd/dcmnt.do?id=901&lang=eng

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In 2002, about 27% of those aged 45 to 64 with unmarried children in the home were also caring for a senior.

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Find the right retirement residence for you. The Sandwich Generation: Who are Canada’s family caregivers and how are they doing? (n.d.). https://chartwell.com/en/blog/2019/08/who-are-canada's-family-caregivers-and-how-are-they-doing

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Excerpt: Nearly 30% of Canadians provide informal, unpaid care, and those between 45 and 64 provide 75% of informal care for older adults. Many feel squeezed by the responsibilities of caring for an aging parent and childrearing, especially women in the workforce, who typically spend more time on caregiving tasks than men. Better supports for family caregivers, who are vulnerable to career and health consequences, can improve the well-being of those giving and receiving care.

Every day, nearly 30% of Canadians provide informal, unpaid care for a family member, friend or neighbour, and nearly half of us will be caregivers at some point,* according to the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).

Canadians between 45 and 64, known as the Sandwich Generation, provide 75% of the informal care for older adults,* reported a BMO study. Many are feeling squeezed by the responsibilities of caring for an aging parent and childrearing,* says the BC Care Providers Association.

Family caregivers are more likely to be women who are employed and married,* says Statistics Canada. Female caregivers expend more energy at home than men and almost the same amount of energy at work, and typically devote a lot more energy to the parent and home maintenance roles,* reported a Carleton University study.

Taking a toll at work

Caregivers who take care of both their children and an aging parent are more likely to miss work, turn down promotions, be less productive, and experience stress or burnout,* says Carleton. Since women in the workforce are more likely than men to assume caregiving roles and spend more time on caregiving tasks, they are more vulnerable to career and financial consequences,* says CMAJ.

Among Canadians caring for a parent, 45% spent between 5 and 30 hours a week, and 55% spent 4 hours or less,* reported Statistics Canada. They accounted for 35% of all hours of informal caregiving, or about 84 million hours per week.* More than 70% of Canadians caring for a spouse spent between 5 and 30 hours a week.*

Health and psychological consequences

People who spend more hours providing care are more susceptible to health problems,* says Statistics Canada. About 30% of Canadians caring for parents and 46% of those caring for a spouse experienced 5 or more symptoms of psychological distress.* Over 20% of those caring for an aging parent and 38% of those caring for a spouse reported their overall health suffered.*

Better supports for caregivers

Over the next two decades, the number of older Canadians needing assistance will double, yet the pool of informal caregivers is shrinking.* Informal caregivers need better access to support options, caregiver-specific education and supports, and flexible workplaces that accommodate caregiving duties,* CMAJ advises. The evidence shows these types of social supports can improve the well-being of both the caregiver and the older adult receiving care.*

To learn how the lifestyle in a Chartwell retirement residence can positively benefit both you and your aging loved one, click here.

*The following sources provide references for this blog, in order of appearance:
1. University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine. "It's time Canada cared more about its caregivers: CMAJ editorial." (2019), online: https://www.deptmedicine.utoronto.ca/news/it's-time-canada-cared-more-about-its-caregivers-cmaj-editorial
2. BC Care Providers Association. "Sandwich generation and family caregivers." (2017), online: https://bccare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Sandwich-Generation-Family-Caregivers.pdf
4. CBC News. "'Sandwich generation' playing greater role in elder care: StatsCan." (2008), online: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/sandwich-generation-playing-greater-role-in-elder-care-statscan-1.723663
7. Statistics Canada. "Family caregiving: what are the consequences? (2013), online: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/en/pub/75-006-x/2013001/article/11858-eng.pdf?st=D3m5lxir

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The Sandwich Generation: Who are Canada's family caregivers and how are they doing?

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Nearly 30% of Canadians provide informal, unpaid care, and those between 45 and 64 provide 75% of informal care for older adults Many feel squeezed by the responsibilities of caring for an aging parent and childrearing, especially women in the workforce, who typically spend more time on caregiving tasks than men

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Money becomes a large issue for caregivers, as they don't want to limit their elderly parent's life, but can not spend money on additional wants all the time. After a while money can be a source of conflict and affect their relationships with family and others.

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Around 47% of adults aged 40-59 have a parent aged 65+ and are raising their children.

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Parker, K. (2013, January 30). The sandwich generation. Pew Research Center’s Social & Demographic Trends Project. https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2013/01/30/the-sandwich-generation/

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Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends Project

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With an aging population and a generation of young adults struggling to achieve financial independence, the burdens and responsibilities of middle-aged Americans are increasing. Nearly half (47%) of adults in their 40s and 50s have a parent age 65 or older and are either raising a young child or financially supporting a grown child (age 18 or older). And about one-in-seven middle-aged adults (15%) is providing financial support to both an aging parent and a child.

While the share of middle-aged adults living in the so-called sandwich generation has increased only marginally in recent years, the financial burdens associated with caring for multiple generations of family members are mounting. The increased pressure is coming primarily from grown children rather than aging parents.

According to a new nationwide Pew Research Center survey, roughly half (48%) of adults ages 40 to 59 have provided some financial support to at least one grown child in the past year, with 27% providing the primary support. These shares are up significantly from 2005. By contrast, about one-in-five middle-aged adults (21%) have provided financial support to a parent age 65 or older in the past year, basically unchanged from 2005. The new survey was conducted Nov. 28-Dec. 5, 2012 among 2,511 adults nationwide.

Looking just at adults in their 40s and 50s who have at least one child age 18 or older, fully 73% have provided at least some financial help in the past year to at least one such child. Many are supporting children who are still in school, but a significant share say they are doing so for other reasons. By contrast, among adults that age who have a parent age 65 or older, just 32% provided financial help to a parent in the past year.

While middle-aged adults are devoting more resources to their grown children these days, the survey finds that the public places more value on support for aging parents than on support for grown children. Among all adults, 75% say adults have a responsibility to provide financial assistance to an elderly parent who is in need; only 52% say parents have a similar responsibility to support a grown child.

One likely explanation for the increase in the prevalence of parents providing financial assistance to grown children is that the Great Recession and sluggish recovery have taken a disproportionate toll on young adults. In 2010, the share of young adults who were employed was the lowest it had been since the government started collecting these data in 1948. Moreover, from 2007 to 2011 those young adults who were employed full time experienced a greater drop in average weekly earnings than any other age group.

A Profile of the Sandwich Generation

Adults who are part of the sandwich generation-that is, those who have a living parent age 65 or older and are either raising a child under age 18 or supporting a grown child-are pulled in many directions. Not only do many provide care and financial support to their parents and their children, but nearly four-in-ten (38%) say both their grown children and their parents rely on them for emotional support.

Who is the sandwich generation? Its members are mostly middle-aged: 71% of this group is ages 40 to 59. An additional 19% are younger than 40 and 10% are age 60 or older. Men and women are equally likely to be members of the sandwich generation. Hispanics are more likely than whites or blacks to be in this situation. Three-in-ten Hispanic adults (31%) have a parent age 65 or older and a dependent child. This compares with 24% of whites and 21% of blacks.

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. This compares with 25% of those making between $30,000 and $100,000 a year and only 17% of those making less than $30,000.

Married adults are more likely than unmarried adults to be sandwiched between their parents and their children: 36% of those who are married fall into the sandwich generation, compared with 13% of those who are unmarried. Age is a factor here as well, since young adults are both less likely to be married and less likely to have a parent age 65 or older.

Presumably life in the sandwich generation could be a bit stressful. Having an aging parent while still raising or supporting one's own children presents certain challenges not faced by other adults-caregiving and financial and emotional support to name just a few. However, the survey suggests that adults in the sandwich generation are just as happy with their lives overall as are other adults. Some 31% say they are very happy with their lives, and an additional 52% say they are pretty happy. Happiness rates are nearly the same among adults who are not part of the sandwich generation: 28% are very happy, and 51% are pretty happy.

Sandwich-generation adults are somewhat more likely than other adults to say they are often pressed for time. Among those with a parent age 65 or older and a dependent child, 31% say they always feel rushed even to do the things they have to do. Among other adults, the share saying they are always rushed is smaller (23%).

For members of the sandwich generation who not only have an aging parent but have also provided financial assistance to a parent, the strain of supporting multiple family members can have an impact on financial well-being. Survey respondents were asked to describe their household's financial situation. Among those who are providing financial support to an aging parent and supporting a child of any age, 28% say they live comfortably, 30% say they have enough to meet their basic expenses with a little left over for extras, 30% say they are just able to meet their basic expenses and 11% say they don't have enough to meet even basic expenses. By contrast, 41% of adults who are sandwiched between children and aging parents, but not providing financial support to an aging parent, say they live comfortably.

Family Responsibilities

When survey respondents were asked if adult children have a responsibility to provide financial assistance to an elderly parent in need, fully 75% say yes, they do. Only 23% say this is not an adult child's responsibility. By contrast, only about half of all respondents (52%) say parents have a responsibility to provide financial assistance to a grown child if he or she needs it. Some 44% say parents do not have a responsibility to do this.

When it comes to providing financial support to an aging parent in need, there is strong support across most major demographic groups. However, there are significant differences across age groups. Adults under age 40 are the most likely to say an adult child has a responsibility to support an elderly parent in need. Eight-in-ten in this age group (81%) say this is a responsibility, compared with 75% of middle-aged adults and 68% of those ages 60 or older. Adults who are already providing financial support to an aging parent are no more likely than those who are not currently doing this to say this is responsibility.

On the question of whether parents have a responsibility to support their grown children, personal experience does seem to matter. Parents whose children are younger than 18 are less likely than those who have a child age 18 or older to say that it is a parent's responsibility to provide financial support to a grown child who needs it (46% vs. 56%). And those parents who are providing primary financial support to a grown child are among the most likely to say this is a parent's responsibility (64%).

Financial Support for Aging Parents and Grown Children

While most adults believe there is a responsibility to provide for an elderly parent in financial need, about one-in-four adults (23%) have actually done this in the past year. Among those who have at least one living parent age 65 or older, roughly one-third (32%) say they have given their parent or parents financial support in the past year. And for most, this is more than just a short-term commitment. About seven-in-ten (72%) of those who have given financial assistance to an aging parent say the money was for ongoing expenses.

Similar shares of middle-aged, younger and older adults say they have provided some financial support to their aging parents in the past year. It is worth noting that many parents age 65 or older may not be in need of financial assistance, so there is not necessarily a disconnect between the share saying adult children have a responsibility to provide for an aging parent who is in need and the share who have provided this type of support.

Overall, Americans are more likely to be providing financial support to a grown child than they are to an aging parent. Among all adults, 30% say they have given some type of financial support to a grown child in the past year. Among those who have a grown child, more than six-in-ten (63%) have done this.

Here the burden falls much more heavily on adults who are middle-aged than on their younger or older counterparts. Among adults ages 40 to 59 with at least one grown child, 73% say they have provided financial support in the past year. Among those ages 60 and older with a grown child, only about half (49%) say they have given that child financial support. Very few of those under age 40 have a grown child.

Of those middle-aged parents who are providing financial assistance to a grown child, more than half say they are providing the primary support, while about four-in-ten (43%) say they are not providing primary support but have given some financial support in the past 12 months. Some 62% of the parents providing primary support say they are doing so because their child is enrolled in school. However, more than one third (36%) say they are doing this for some other reason.

The focus in this report is on the financial flows from middle-aged adults to their aging parents and their grown children. Of course, money also flows from parents who are 65 or older to their middle-aged children. While the new Pew Research survey did not explore these financial transfers, previous surveys have found that a significant share of older adults provide financial help to their grown children. A Pew Research survey conducted in Sept. 2011 found that among adults 65 and older with at least one grown child age 25 or older, 44% said they had given financial support to a grown child in the past year.

Beyond Finances: Providing Care and Emotional Support

While some aging parents need financial support, others may also need help with day-to-day living. Among all adults with at least one parent age 65 or older, 30% say their parent or parents need help to handle their affairs or care for themselves; 69% say their parents can handle this on their own.

Middle-aged adults are the most likely to have a parent age 65 or older (68% say they do). And of that group, 28% say their parent needs some help. Among those younger than 40, only 18% have a parent age 65 or older; 20% of those ages 60 and older have a parent in that age group. But for those in their 60s and beyond who do still have a living parent, the likelihood that the parent will need caregiving is relatively high. Fully half of adults age 60 or older with a living parent say the parent needs help with day-to-day living.

When aging adults need assistance handling their affairs or caring for themselves, family members often help out. Among those with a parent age 65 or older who needs this type of assistance, 31% say they provide most of this help, and an additional 48% say they provide at least some of the help.

In addition to helping their aging parents with day-to-day living, many adults report that their parents rely on them for emotional support. Among all adults with a living parent age 65 or older, 35% say that their parent or parents frequently rely on them for emotional support, and 33% say their parents sometimes rely on them for emotional support. One-in-five say their parents hardly ever rely on them in this way, and 10% say they never do.

Even among those who say their parents do not need help handling their affairs or caring for themselves, 61% say their parents rely on them for emotional support at least sometimes. For those whose parents do need help with daily living, fully 84% report that their parents rely on them for emotional support at least some of the time.

Not surprisingly, the older the parent, the more likely he or she is to require emotional support. Among adults with a parent age 80 or older, 75% say their parents turn to them for emotional support frequently or sometimes. This compares with 64% among those who have a parent ages 65 to 79.

Emotional support also flows from parents to grown children, even children who are financially independent. Overall, 33% of parents with at least one child age 18 or older say their grown child or children depend on them frequently for emotional support. An additional 42% say their grown children sometimes rely on them for emotional support.

When it comes to grown children, there is a link between financial and emotional support. Among parents who say they are providing primary financial support to their grown child or children, 43% say their children frequently rely on them for emotional support and 45% say they sometimes do. By comparison, only 24% of those who say they do not provide any financial support to their grown children say their children frequently rely on them for emotional support, and 39% say their children sometimes rely on them for this type of support.

Boomers Moving Out of the Sandwich Generation

Today members of the Baby Boomer generation and Generation X are represented in the "sandwich generation." But the balance has shifted significantly. When the Pew Research Center explored this topic in 2005, Baby Boomers made up the majority of the sandwich generation. They were more than twice as likely as members of the next generation-Generation X-to have a parent age 65 or older and be supporting a child (45% vs. 20%). Since 2005, many Baby Boomers have aged out of the sandwich generation, and today adults who are part of Generation X are more likely than Baby Boomers to find themselves in this situation: 42% of Gen Xers have parent age 65 or older and a dependent child, compared with 33% of Boomers.

This report will focus largely on adults ages 40 to 59, loosely defined as "middle aged." While this group may not share a generational label, many of its members do have a shared set of experiences, challenges and responsibilities given the unique position they inhabit, sandwiched between their children and their aging parents.

Middle-aged adults who make up the core of the sandwich generation are living out these challenges and, in the process, perhaps ushering in a new set of family dynamics. Most middle-aged parents with grown children say their relationship with their children is different from the relationship they had with their own parents at a comparable age. Half say the relationship is closer, while 12% say it's less close and 37% say the relationship is about the same. Older adults (those ages 60 and older) are less likely than middle-aged parents to say they have a closer relationship with their grown children than they had with their own parents (44%), and they are more likely to say the relationship is about the same (45%).

The remainder of this report will look at the basic building blocks of intergenerational relationships in more detail. The first section will look at attitudes about financial responsibilities and the reality of financial transfers. The second section will look at caregiving for older adults. How many older adults need assistance with day-to-day living, and who is providing that care? The third section will look at emotional ties across generations and explore the extent to which aging parents rely on their children and grown children rely on their parents for emotional support.

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With an aging population and a generation of young adults struggling to achieve financial independence, the burdens and responsibilities of middle-aged Americans are increasing. Nearly half (47%) of adults in their 40s and 50s have a parent age 65 or older and are either raising a young child or financially supporting a grown child (age 18 or older).

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Individuals take care of their elderly parents as if they were children; solely dependent upon them for just about everything.

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When the caregiver's children grow up enough to work, they can financially help out their parents and grandparents.

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Sandwich generation families often give physical support to their aging parents, and growing children.

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Sandwich generation familes always have to support each individual through finances.

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Sandwich generation familes often give emotional support to all individuals involved.

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Intriago, J. (2022, March 31). 5 benefits of the Sandwich Generation Household. Seasons. https://www.seasons.com/the-ability-to-live-independently-and-flexibly/2491920/

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Having a parent or parents come to share your home when you still have other children (maybe adult children) living with you is often considered a situation to avoid. The term "sandwich generation" refers to this situation where three generations share a home. Even though it may not be ideal for some, maintaining separate households among the generations of a family has become increasingly difficult since the Great Recession (2008) and continues through today. Many young people moved back home in the years following the recession and many have not left. And, making the number in the household larger, the eldest generation needed support too. With people living longer and sometimes outrunning their retirement funds while needing long-term care, many homes have three generations living under one roof.

Some prefer the separation

For many, the ability to live independently and flexibly, without the cares of either children or parents in the house, is a desirable situation. Many older Americans welcomed the "empty nest" when their grown children flew away and their own parents were still able to live on their own.

Some love the benefits of a multi-generational home

For some, responding to the needs that drive sharing a home among generations cannot be tolerated. For others being a "sandwiched" family is a lifestyle choice that has many advantages.

5 Benefits

Here are five beneficial reasons why being in a multi-generational "sandwich" living arrangement can be desirable.

1. It's trending

Almost a third of young people between the ages of 25 to 34 have moved in with Mom and Dad at some time over the last few years and know someone their age who has or is doing the same thing.

Almost half of Generation Xers have children, adult, and minor, living under their roofs. At the same time, their parents are seniors and need help.

Some 33% of baby boomers, seniors themselves, are in the sandwich position as their parents' life spans climb and their adult children, facing a soft economy, need a hand.

A 2018 Pew Research Center report showed that in 2016 one-in-five Americans live in multigenerational households and the number is growing among all racial groups. The growth has slowed somewhat since the sharp increase between 2007 and 2009 which was the largest increase in history. Multigenerational living situations are still trending, and sandwich households are not uncommon.

2. Life in the same nest can be nice

Generation gap? Does a rebellious youth have difficulty with Mom and Dad's values? These don't seem to be problems for the majority of young adults. A full 78% of them find life with Mom and Dad quite satisfying.

Sharing a household also may allow Grandma and/or Grandpa to age in a loving family home instead of an institution. Social Security is still a significant part of many elderly Americans' income, and it frequently isn't enough to sustain independent living.

A multigenerational living situation also places Grandma and Grandpa squarely in a situation where help is in the next room.

3. A brighter economic picture

Sharing the bills with Mom and Dad gives young people some financial leverage to feel cheery about their financial futures, and some 77% feel that way.

It helps Mom and Dad too. Almost 50% of young adults pay rent to the parents and a full 90% say they have helped out financially in some way.

Grandma and Grandpa's Social Security checks may not cover independent living, but they can take the edge off Mom and Dad's mortgage. In fact, the Census Bureau found that people in multigenerational households had lower poverty rates than any other households, and a Harris survey found that 63% of multigenerational households benefitted from Grandma and Grandpa's Social Security checks.

According to a Pew Research study, Mom and Dad received 25% of their income from intergenerational "guests"; sometimes they received as much as 50% of their income from adult children and aged parents combined in a three-generation home.

4. It is very family-friendly

82% of respondents to a Harris survey conducted for Generations United said that multigenerational living arrangements had "enhanced bonds and relationships" among family members.

Although 78% conceded that such an arrangement had their stresses, 75% said that it made providing for the care needs of one or more family members, including young children, those with special medical needs, and the elderly, much easier (which reduces family stress).

More than half of the respondents to the Harris survey said that their multigenerational living arrangement had helped at least one family member attain more job training or to go on in school. The support system not only serves as a safety net-it may serve to catapult some family members forward.

5. It's rewarding

Almost 90% of adults in the United States (whether they live in a multigenerational situation or not) find it emotionally rewarding when they help their aged parents. What's more, the same percentage feel rewarded by helping out their adult children too. Most do not feel that helping adult children and aging parents adds to their stress; most are as happy as others who are not sandwiched with a needy other generation and are just as satisfied with their lives.

These are all good reasons not to fear the sandwich generation and consider it as an option for your family. Share your stories about your sandwiched household!

Up next for you

There is much more waiting for you on Seasons.com.

Sources

Fry, Richard. "More Millennials Living with Family Despite Improved Job Market." Pew Research Center, Social and Demographic Trends, July 29, 2015. Available online at http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/07/28/more-millennials-living-with-family-despite-improved-job-market/st_2015-07-29_young-adult-living-01/.

D'Vera, Cohn and Passel, Jeffrey S. "A record 64 million Americans live in multigenerational households", April 5, 2018, https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/04/05/a-record-64-million-americans-live-in-multigenerational-households/

Parker, Kim. "The Boomerang Generation: Feeling OK about Living with Mom and Dad." Pew Research Center, Social and Demographic Trends, March 15, 2012. Available online at: http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/03/15/the-boomerang-generation/.

Parker Kim. "Family Support in Graying Societies: How American, Germans, and Italians are Coping with an Aging Population." Pew Research Center, Social and Demographic Trends, May 21, 2015. Available online at http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2015/05/21/family-support-in-graying-societies/.

Rusoff, Jame Wollman."Advising the Squeezed 'Sandwich Generation.'" Research Magazine. August 3, 2015. Available online at http://www.thinkadvisor.com/2015/08/03/advising-the-squeezed-sandwich-generation.

Generations United. "Family Matters: Multigenerational Families in a Volatile Economy," 2011. Available online at: https://s3.amazonaws.com/pushbullet-uploads/ujzNDwQrsR2-Fh1i6OsVW1jTaFiBNeQjB0phNUWXMmgH/11-PublicPolicy-Report-Family-Matters-Multigen-Families.pdf

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5 benefits of the sandwich generation household

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Having a parent or parents come to share your home when you still have other children (maybe adult children) living with you is often considered a situation to avoid. The term "sandwich generation" refers to this situation where three generations share a home.

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One gets to spend more quality time with their aging parents. A large concern that middle aged individuals have with aging parents is spending enough time with them before their parent's die, and sandwich generation families offer that.

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The caregivers in a sandwich generation family can go out for a date night and have their older parents watch the kids while they go out and spend quality time together as a couple.

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Having a sandwich generation family lifestyle can create a stronger bond between those involved, and can help bridge the generational gap between children and there grandparents.

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Extra curricular activities and education for their children may be a big expense, and vacations for their family may cost even more since they are paying for a larger number of people.

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Their own retirement funds are at risk because they are paying for everything, and they may not have enough to invest in their own personal health and future.

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The caregiver's relationship with their spouse, older parents, and children can become Authoritarian as they do not feel like they have enough control over their life, and therefore resort to controlling those around them.

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Caring for Kids and Aging Parents: The “sandwich” generation is under strain. Caring for Kids and Aging Parents: The “Sandwich” Generation Is Under Strain. (2022, December 15). https://myhealth.ucsd.edu/RelatedItems/6,1658944539#:~:text=And%20when%20compared%20with%20those,and%20exhaustion%2C%20the%20researchers%20found

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Caring for Kids and Aging Parents: The 'Sandwich' Generation Is Under Strain

THURSDAY, Dec. 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly one-quarter of all American adults who care for an elderly parent also care for a child at the same time, a new study reveals.

And when compared with those who only have a parent under their watch, members of the so-called "sandwich generation" - namely caregivers of both the old and the young - are much more likely to struggle with money problems, emotional trouble and exhaustion, the researchers found.

"There is actually little research evidence characterizing this group," said lead study author Lianlian Lei, a health services researcher in the department of psychiatry at the University of Michigan, in Ann Arbor. "So, our team aimed to fill that gap and provide a national estimate describing this group of caregivers, and how they are similar or different from other types of caregivers."

In the end, Lei's team pegged the number of dual caregivers in the United States at about 2.5 million, "which is nearly one-quarter of all those who are caregivers for their aging parents."

"We weren't that surprised by the size," she stressed. "It seems more like we described something that many colleagues actually are living through."

Nor were investigators surprised by the struggles they identified as particular to this group, "given the intense type of burden they are experiencing."

To get a handle on the scope and burdens of dual caregiving, the researchers sifted through the findings of the 2015 National Study of Caregiving and the National Health and Aging Trends Study.

The studies collectively involved about 1,100 men and women who were looking after about 1,100 children under the age of 18 and/or roughly 1,650 adults over the age of 65. About 60% of the study participants were women.

In all, just over 24% of study participants were found to be taking care of both a minor and a senior. The remainder were only caring for an older adult, although the amount of time spent looking after a senior was about the same for each group: 77 hours per month among those in the dual care position versus 72 hours per month among the senior-only caregivers.

Dual caregivers were also more likely to receive some pay for their work (69% versus 54%). But those performing double service were also more likely to be Medicaid recipients, as was the adult under their care, suggesting lower income levels.

In fact, 24% of dual care adults said they had financial difficulties, compared with just 12% among senior-only caregivers. Similarly, they were more burdened by emotional issues (44% versus 32%). And while 1 in 5 senior-only caregivers said they were exhausted, that figure was more than 1 in 4 among dual caregivers.

The extra burdens that seem to befall the sandwich generation has largely gone unnoticed, the research team noted. And Lei pointed out that, to a certain degree, that has to do with the fact that, "historically, the work of caregiving, both of older adults as well as of children, disproportionately falls on women," as evidenced in the gender breakdown of the study itself.

At the same time, she said, much of public policy around caregiving has tended to be the purview of men. Which is why "it is not surprising that the particular needs of caregivers have been discounted," Lei added.

So, what can be done to help those who feel they might be sinking under the weight of their obligations?

"Given the relatively high proportion of employed sandwich generation caregivers, they may benefit from specific employment-related supports, such as paid time off for caregiving responsibilities," Lei suggested.

Dual caregivers "may also benefit from the paid caregiving policies for family caregivers from Medicaid," which she argued should be expanded to include more states and be improved in both scope and coverage.

"Finally, people can also check with local organizations such as their Area Agency on Aging or Alzheimer's Association to learn about resources that might be available," Lei suggested.

The study team published their findings recently in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

"Caregiving for a loved one is physically and emotionally difficult for even the most prepared and financially secure individuals," said Anny Fenton, an instructor of medicine in the department of population science at Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, in Boston. "And those caring for a parent are often most at risk."

Fenton noted that oftentimes it's the first time handling major medical events, and sometimes requires caring for a parent from another city or state. "And the role reversal of caring for one's parent can be challenging for both the caregiver and patient," she said.

On top of that, "younger caregivers often do not have as much of a nest egg, income or seniority at work to support time off as older adult-child caregivers," she added. "While we wait for policy to catch up, there are online resources for caregivers like support groups and meal trains."
More information
There's more on caregiving at AARP.

SOURCES: Lianlian Lei, PhD, health services researcher, department of psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Anny Fenton, PhD, instructor of medicine, department of population science, Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Boston; Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Nov. 25, 2022

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Caring for Kids and Aging Parents: The 'Sandwich' Generation Is Under Strain

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THURSDAY, Dec. 15, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly one-quarter of all American adults who care for an elderly parent also care for a child at the same time, a new study reveals.

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The unique challenges faced by the sandwich generation as caregivers. The Kensington White Plains. (2022, March 28). https://thekensingtonwhiteplains.com/challenges-faced-by-sandwich-generation-caregivers/#:~:text=This%20sandwich%20generation%20of%20caregivers,and%20eventually%20experience%20caregiver%20burnout

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The Unique Challenges Faced By the Sandwich Generation as Caregivers - The Kensington White Plains

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The sandwich generation refers to the group of middle-aged adults who support both their children and their parents financially, emotionally, physically, or all of the above. This sandwich generation of caregivers can face overwhelming stress while trying to balance the needs of their children with the needs of their spouses and senior parents.

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Caregivers can experience financial problems since they are regularily paying bills, taxes, and taking care of their family. However, they are additionally taking care of their elderly parents. Things like medication, doctor appointments, physio appointments, and elderly activities can be an extra expense.

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Caregivers can easily lose touch with friends, and feel like they are working so hard and yet they can not succeed. They may begin to not take care of themselves as much, and eventually become burnt out.

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Those who are the designated caregivers of a sandwich generation styled family can have a sense of overwhelming stress, and a feeling of hopelessness.

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In 2002, Stats Canada said that 712,000 Canadian individuals were caught in between a sandwich generation family.

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The Sandwich generation are adults who are between 35-65 who are taking care of their elderly parents and are raising a minor in a family setting.

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Kelly, J. (2023, February 27). The “sandwich generation” is financially taking care of their parents, kids and themselves. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2023/02/24/the-sandwich-generation-is-financially-taking-care-of-their-parents-kids-and-themselves/

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The ‘Sandwich Generation’ Is Financially Taking Care Of Their Parents, Kids And Themselves

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Many Americans are financially squeezed, sandwiched between caring for their children and young adults, while also providing for their aging parents.

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The Shift of Care Responsibilities Between Parent and Child

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The Shift of Care Responsibilities Between Parent and Child

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The Benefits to the Different Individuals Involved

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The Benefits to the Different Individuals Involved

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Financial Costs of a Sandwich Generation

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Financial Costs of a Sandwich Generation

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What Type of Care and Support do they Provide?

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What Type of Care and Support do they Provide?

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According to the Oxford Dictionary, a Sandwich Generation is:
a generation of people, typically in their thirties or forties, responsible both for bringing up their own children and for the care of their ageing parents.