The Sandwich Generation

No, it’s not a reference to obesity or food. What is happening to more and more people is the tight squeeze they feel between taking care of their own families and their parents. So many ask themselves, “When you've used up all your waking hours and it's still not enough, how do you make a choice between taking care of your children who need you, taking care of your  parents who need you, and taking care of your job which I need so that I can afford to take care of everyone I'm taking care of?"  If you are feeling this way, you are definitely not alone.

Commonly referred to as the "sandwich generation," millions of middle-aged people are finding themselves exhausted and overwhelmed by the stress of caring for both their children and their aging parents while also managing their income-generating jobs and keeping their partners happy--all at the same time. And because women typically assume more child care, elderly care, and domestic responsibilities than men, they often suffer the brunt of the stress. 

So the next question, is there a way to identify and remedy caregiver burnout? Of course! 

Here are a few examples of caregiver's  burnout:

~Fatigue that doesn’t go away with a few nights of good sleep

~Lack of satisfaction in what you do

~Always feeling hopeless or helpless

~Not taking care of yourself; not having the energy to do so

~An increase in irritability, frustration, anger, impatience; specifically towards  

  people, you’re caring for

~Feelings of sadness, an increase in crying spells

~Insomnia, or getting too much sleep (hypersomnia)

~Loss of interest in doing things that you liked to do before

~Physical symptoms such as frequent headaches and heart palpitations

Now, that you can identify some symptoms of caregiver burnout, here are some tips to remember to help prevent the burnout:

~Remember to always take care of yourself. How can you expect to take care of others when you are physically and emotionally exhausted? Try to get enough sleep, eat a healthy/balanced diet, and try to carve out some time for yourself, as little as it might be.

~Recognize your limitations. There comes a point in time when you cannot do it all. And please ask for help. Understandably, it might be financially difficult to hire some help, but one can always turn to close family and friends. 

~Try to stay as organized as possible, specifically when it comes to your parents’ information. There are numerous doctors, medications, and hospitalizations of which a caregiver needs to keep track. Keeping all the information in one location will help especially in emergencies.

~If your parents live far away, see if relocation is an option, either for you or your parents. It is much more difficult to take care of one’s parents when they are far away from them. Having close proximity can provide the peace of mind when it comes to their health and overall well-being.

All in all, try to put yourself first in order to be able to take care of your aging parents. They appreciate the help you can provide and it can instill family values in your children as well.