Caring For Aging Parents and Young Children at the Same Time
/In 2018, nearly 10 million millennials acted as unpaid caregivers to adults over the age of 65, as reported by the AARP. These millennials usually fall in the age range of early 20s to mid-30s, which is also a common age for many adults to start having children. People in this unique situation are often referred to as the “sandwich generation,” as they are sandwiched between taking care of their aging parents and their growing children.
Since adults of the sandwich generation are spread between their responsibilities toward their children, parents, and careers, they are often susceptible to both mental and financial stress. It is therefore important for them to seek resources that can help them manage their situation. Below, we’ve provided a few tips if you are an adult of the sandwich generation to help you balance your multiple caregiving responsibilities.
Have a Financial Plan
If both your children and your parents are relying on you financially, you may end up running higher living costs on a month-to-month basis. Thus, you need to look for strategies that can help keep you at a decent level of financial health. Start by creating a family budget. Determine how much you need to spend on your children, your parents, and your own necessities, then cut down any unnecessary spending to increase your funds for emergencies.
You may also need to seek good insurance programs to account for any unexpected costs. Fortunately, older adults have many affordable insurance options, particularly in healthcare, which means you have many ways to cut down on your parents’ expenses. For example, you can enroll your parents under Medicare to cut down on healthcare costs. Kelsey Care Advantage outlines how Medicare Advantage plans can cover supplementary benefits for seniors, such as vision coverage, dental coverage, and prescription drugs. As the parents get older the chances of them needing medical care increases, which is why it is wise to have a financial safety net ready. It’s also best to select a plan that provides additional coverage on top of medical expenses to really maximize your savings.
Connect your children and parents
Both your children and your parents have social needs, and should be around other people to boost their mental wellbeing. You can help them achieve this by signing them up for groups in order to meet new people and make friends. If that isn’t possible due to age or an underlying condition, you can also frequently bring your parents and children together. This will solidify their familial bond and provide both with a positive social interaction.
Verywell Family notes that physical proximity and frequent contact are major predictors of a close relationship between grandparents and grandchildren. If you don’t live together, you can always bring your kids with you while visiting your parents. This way, you can provide care in one place, while also giving them the space to get to know one another.
Ask for help
Of course, you don’t have to do everything on your own. You can always hire professional help for assistance with caregiving tasks, or even housekeeping chores. Cleaners, cooks, and babysitters can all help take some of the load off your plate. New parents can also seek support for their pregnancies, such as the doula services provided here at Happiest Doulas.
You can also seek help from healthcare professionals, who can use their knowledge of medical procedures to administer care for aging adults. In today’s highly digitized world, you might not even need the professional with you physically. Healthcare professionals can use telehealth to monitor their patients and administer care remotely.
Research family benefits at your workplace
You may be able to take advantage of employee benefits that will help you manage your situation. Check if your workplace offers job-protected leave for family concerns, as this is something that you may be entitled to. The Family and Medical Leave Act allows employees to take 12 weeks off for certain situations, such as childbirth, and caring for family members with serious medical conditions. When you take these kinds of leaves, your employer is required to maintain any provided group health benefits.
Being part of the sandwich generation can be difficult. Fortunately, there are many resources available that can help caregivers manage their numerous responsibilities.
