{"id":21994,"date":"2026-03-11T12:12:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T12:12:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/uncategorized\/how-to-take-care-of-yourself-as-a-sandwich-generation-caregiver\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T06:13:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T06:13:20","slug":"how-to-take-care-of-yourself-as-a-sandwich-generation-caregiver","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/health-and-wellness\/caregiving\/family-caregiving\/advice-for-caregivers\/how-to-take-care-of-yourself-as-a-sandwich-generation-caregiver\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take Care of Yourself as a Sandwich Generation Caregiver"},"content":{"rendered":"

Branka Primetica, MSW, is the BRI Care Consultation\u2122 Program Manager at Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

Consider whether this has a familiar ring: You\u2019ve got a work assignment due in the morning, and you need two or three more hours to finish it. All day long, you try to get to it, but your mom has a medical appointment she can\u2019t miss and you need to drive her there and consult with the doctor. One of your children comes down with a cold and the other two need help with schoolwork. When you finally do sit down to your computer in the afternoon, you\u2019re concerned about everyone. Then you get a follow-up call from your mom\u2019s doctor and it breaks your train of thought. By then, dinner has to be made and cleaned up. Your assignment will have to wait until tonight\u2014after you check on your mom and get the kids settled down\u2014and before you sleep. <\/p>\n

If this sounds anything like your life, you\u2019re a member of the \u201csandwich generation<\/a>.\u201d The term was coined in the early 1980s to refer to the population of caregivers who simultaneously care for their children and their aging parents, in-laws or other family members. They shoulder numerous responsibilities, including jobs, childcare, household chores and care tasks for their older loved ones. If you are a member of this generation, you can easily find yourself feeling overwhelmed as your responsibilities pile on, and it may feel like there are never enough hours in the day to handle it all.<\/p>\n

The Covid-19 pandemic has made your demands even more challenging, as you may have to instruct your children at home while you keep up with your job and household tasks. Adding to your stress, you may also have to do more distant caregiving<\/a> because of social distancing recommendations if your older loved one lives in a separate household, and particularly if he or she has compromised immunity.<\/p>\n

The face of the \u201csandwich generation\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to 2013 Pew Research Center<\/a> data, the \u201csandwich generation\u201d is:<\/p>\n