Sandwich Generation – Kids and Grandparents

During your midlife years, you are likely to encounter one of the problems commonly found on that particular age group – taking care of your elderly parents while at the same time taking care of your own children. This can be very especially stressful as not only you will have to meet the needs of your children, but also be able to take care of your elderly parents or grandparents and make sure that they get the right care they deserve. As you are being “sandwiched” between two huge responsibilities, this age group is usually called as the “Sandwich generation”.

Kimberly Wickert, the author of the best-selling book, “Sandwich Generation’s Guide to Eldercare” partakes her knowledge, and her own personal experience as a person in the Sandwich generation, to those who are having the same problems as her and other people trapped in this dilemma.

According to her, there are 1 in 8 people that are suffering from this huge problem. Not only can this be very distressing, it can take a toll on the family’s financial standing as wrong decisions could lead to unneeded expenses that will produce more stress in the family’s part. Fortunately, Kimberly presents many solutions on how to handle these problems with ease.

Kimberly suggests that the family introduce some activities that will benefit both the children and their elderly loved ones. For example, introduce some games that are simple enough for both the children and elders to understand. This will create a bond between the two generations, which is mutually beneficial for both people.

Another suggestion Kimberly suggests to these people is that they should consider getting their elderly parents or grandparents a health care plan or admitting them to a healthcare facility, where they can be taken care of. This is very beneficial for both parties and can take some stress off the person in the Sandwich generation.

For those looking to get their elderly loved ones to a healthcare facility, Kimberly suggests that they should know more about the facility, as well as the healthcare professionals and staff housed in these facilities. Kimberly also advises dropping by randomly for you to learn more about the staff and see if they are taking care of the residents properly. Another thing to note is that they should also know the charges and fees on these facilities, as staying on a healthcare facility may prove to be more expensive and less beneficial than letting your elderly loved ones stay at your home.

For other helpful tips you can make use of her book. The “Sandwich Generation’s Guide to Eldercare” is available on all major retailers and on the Amazon website.

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