The Sandwich Generation
WHAT IS IT?
You are young or middle aged, and you have children who need you. You also are caring for elderly parents. Where does that leave you? In the middle of a sandwich.
It isn’t easy being part of the sandwich generation, and many nontraditional students are going back to school and having these responsibilities.
HOW TO GET HELP
Sandwich people can join a local support group. They can budget their time, leaving some for themselves. They can also find help online in a group or on a website.
I have found some great online resources to check out if you are a sandwich nontrad.
Here they are:
The Sandwich Generation at Caregiver.com
Guidelines for the Sandwich Generation at About.com
Often, it comes down to not just taking care of others, but making sure you take care of yourself. Stress can cause many problems. Just realizing that you need a break can help a lot.
DO SOME RESEARCH
Seek out local resources that can help, like a Meals on Wheels service or a respite care or in-home service. And enlist your family’s help if you feel that you are doing everything alone.
ASK FOR YOUR FAMILY’S HELP
Your family can be a big help, if they will pitch in on daily chores and responsibilities. Have a talk with them, so they will understand how much you must do in order to take care of things in your family, plus go to school.
HAVE A STUDY AREA
You might want to study at school, carving out a time just for you, where there are no distractions from your home duties. Or you might find a quiet place at home that will serve as a study niche.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE
Just knowing there are others out there who are dealing with family stresses can help. You can connect with them in person or online. Check out the other resources at the end of this article. I hope you like them!
Caregiving Resources from AARP
Elder Rage site
Caregiving.com (also has a podcast)
Caregiving Resource List
Some great parent links
Sue LeBeau's Just for Parents site
How to choose the best support group - from the Mayo Clinic
Relieving Stress - - from the Franklin Institute
Livestrong Foundation - videos about relieving stress
Yahoo Best of Health and Wellness groups