If you are feeling a bit like the meat in the sandwich, you’re not alone. The ‘sandwich generation’ is a growing social phenomenon that impacts people from all walks of life, describing those at a stage of their lives where they are caring for their offspring, as well as their elderly parents.
The phenomenon is gathering momentum as we are tending to live longer and have kids later. It even encompasses royalty. Prince William has been dealing with a sick father, while juggling school aged kids (as well as a partner dealing with serious health issues).
A growing phenomenon:
The number of people forming part of the sandwich generation has grown since the term was first coined in the 1980’s. It’s estimated that as many as 5% of Australians are currently juggling caring responsibilities, which has implications for family dynamics, incomes, retirement and even the economy.i
Like many other countries, the number of older Australians is growing both in number and as a percentage of the population. By 2026, more than 22% of Australians will be aged over 65 – up from 16% in 2020.ii It’s also becoming more common for aging parents to rely on their adult children for assistance when living independently becomes challenging.
The other piece of bread in the sandwich is that as a society, we are starting families later in life. The median age of all women giving birth increased by three years over two decades.iii
And with young people staying in the family home well into their twenties, we are certainly supporting our children for longer. Even after the kids leave the nest, it’s also common for parents to become involved in looking after grandchildren.
Taking its toll on carers:
While we want to support our loved ones, when that support is required constantly and intensively for both parts of the family, it can mean that something has to give and that ‘something’ is often the carer’s well-being.
Even if you are not part of the sandwich generation but being squeezed at either end – caring for kids or parents, acting as a primary care-giver often requires you to provide physical, emotional, and financial support. It’s common to feel it take a toll on your own emotional and physical health, and sometimes your finances as you sacrifice some of your savings or paid work to help your loved ones.
Support for caregivers:
It can be difficult to acknowledge you need assistance but there are a number of ways you can access help.
Deciding what to get help with:
It can feel like there is not enough hours in the day and that’s overwhelming. Try to think about what you really need to do and where your time is best spent and consider if you can get assistance with tasks or duties you don’t have to do. This may mean outsourcing things like buying a healthy meal instead of cooking or getting a hand with gardening or lawn mowing.
Think about what others could assist with to lighten and share your load.
Accessing support:
There are also support networks that exist to reduce some of the pressure. Reach out to local support networks via Carers Australia for help identifying mainstream and community supports.
You or your loved ones may also be entitled to government support, under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) or My Aged Care. These programs provide funding and resources to help pay for essential care; from domestic assistance with cleaning and cooking, to home modifications, to 24-hour care for those who require more support.
The importance of self-care:
It’s vital to take some time out for yourself and make your own well-being a priority. Don’t feel that it’s selfish to take care of your own needs; it’s an essential part of being a carer. Resources like respite care and getting support when needed, are an important gateway to self-care.
Managing your finances:
Caregiving can put financial pressure on the whole household and has the potential to impact retirement savings. The assistance of trusted and caring professionals can help, and Clear Sky Financial is here if you need a hand.
Raising kids and supporting aging parents to live their best lives, is becoming more common, and can be a challenging time of life. While the act of caring is the ultimate act of kindness – the most important thing to remember is to be kind to yourself.
i https://info.careforfamily.com.au/blog/sandwich-generation
ii https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2023/10/09/confronting-ageing-the-talk-australia-has-to-have.html
iii https://www.abs.gov.au/
Information contained in this document is considered to be true and correct at time of publication. In addition, the information provided is general information only, and does not take into account any individuals’ objectives, financial situation and needs. Before acting on any information contained herein, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice having regard to your personal objectives, financial situation and needs.