Sandwich Generation Blog

Personally, I don’t have children. A friend commented to me years ago that I would make a good aunt and I followed her sound advice. So my sister is the true “sandwich generation” in our family. She is the one who must juggle basketball games and proms and our 80 year old parents’ increasing needs. I’m just sandwiched in between career, caring for a disabled husband and parents who increasingly have emergencies because they can no longer cope with life’s more challenging demands.

When I read Dr. Nancy’s “Sandwich Generation” article, I realized how much my sister and I had yet to do with regard to our parents’ care. Whereas we have helped them create a Living Trust, both for them and our disabled sister, there is still much left undone.

Our parents won’t even discuss long term care and any mention of outside help, like Meals on Wheels or housekeeping services falls on deaf ears. We do know that nursing home care is the last resort. Our dad has already been kicked out of one within 24 hours of arrival. But we have taken Dr. Nancy’s guidance and are easing into more help as the needs arise.

If you have aging parents with or without siblings to help, read this article. The suggestions Dr. Nancy makes are absolutely golden. I can’t think of any she left out.