RespiteMatch.com Health Blog

If you’re like many other caregivers, you’re feeling pressured by the demands of doing everything at once—caring for
your elderly relative at the same time you’re trying to raise your young children. If so, you are part of the “Sandwich
Generation,” a term that refers to working adults who care for both young and old family members.

Increasingly, employers are recognizing the pressures faced by the Sandwich Generation. Many large companies
have Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) to help their employees find and take advantage of resources in the
community that can help them with their many duties. If you’re feeling stressed out, try talking with representatives
from your company’s EAP to see if you can get some help.

If you work at home, or if your employer does not have an EAP, look to other community resources—such as
your local Area Agency on Aging or childcare resource network—for information about and help with elder care and
child care.
Here are a few tips for dealing with the pressures of being a member of the Sandwich Generation:

Don’t Try to Do It All

You are not superman or superwoman; don’t expect too
much from yourself. Although you want to do the best
that you can for both your children and your elder, it is
completely natural that you place your own children
and immediate family first on your list of priorities.

Don’t compromise your role as a parent for the sake
of your role as a caregiver for your elder. And don’t be
afraid to ask for help: look to home health services,
nursing care, homemakers, home-delivered meals and
other services to help you take care of your elder while
also taking care of your own family.

Investigate Childcare Options

There are a wide variety of childcare
options that can help ease the strain on
you; find out what is available in your
community. Check with your local
childcare resource network for referrals
and information about
home-based daycares, larger daycare
centers or nannies.

Flextime and Other Alternative Work
Arrangements

In an effort to recruit and maintain quality employees,
more employers are becoming open to telecommuting
and alternative work hours. You may want to discuss
your situation with your boss or human resources
department to see if there is a way to arrange your work
responsibilities around the mounting responsibilities
you face at home.