NPR series: Sandwich generation and what to do

[summer]

I thought these podcasts were pretty interesting and informative for people taking care of parents and children.

I, however, do sort of hate that this conversation always focuses on baby boomers being sandwiched between aging parents and adult children, when there are likely an increasing amount of people in their 20's and 30's having this burden put upon them with sick/disabled/mentally ill/drug addicted/low-income/etc..parents and with young children in tow.....and they will be dealing with it a lot longer seeing as their parents are only in their 50's and 60's.


Interesting and informative, nontheless

www.npr.org/2012/05/08/152272244/sandwich-generation-must-make-tough-choices

www.npr.org/2012/04/24/151281323/can-you-pay-for-yourself-your-kids-your-parents

[IIOY]

It's always about the Baby Boomers. Always.

[Deleted]

It is Gen X that is the sandwich generation. They are taking care of the baby boomers and their children.

[IIOY]

I agree that Gen X will be doing this, thanks in large part to massive failures of Baby Boomer stewardship, but to be fair, this is indeed an issue for the Boomers. The problem is that the Boomers want to screw their own children to make it easier for themselves without realizing that they will simply amplify the same problem for the next generation.

[ttt]

Aren't the children of most Baby Boomers already grown?

[ttt]

OK here's what I have a problem with in the NPR article. The woman's son is 23. That's way old enough to either be on his own or if he's living at home, to be working and contributing financially or helping in the responsibility for the care of his grandfather. So you're not "sandwiched", caring for two generations, you have ADULT help!

People who are caring for both aging parents AND small children get my sympathy. People who are "caring" for grown young adults fully capable of working and/or sharing the burden, no.

[Deleted]

Jun 20, 2012 7:42:41 GMT -5 ttt said:

Aren't the children of most Baby Boomers already grown?

DH is gen X, but his siblings are baby boomer aged. DH's parents are in their 80s. His sister that does the most caring for his parents (she lives down the street) works full time (university professor) and has 2 children (one just finished her A levels and taking a gap year and the other is still in school).

[Deleted]

Plus, given how nowadays people are delaying having kids until they are in their 30s and 40s, I wonder how future generations will be affected more than the boomers.

[heyjude]

The baby boomers are sooooooo put upon.

[ttt]

Jun 20, 2012 8:10:55 GMT -5 @littlemoxie said:

Jun 20, 2012 7:45:44 GMT -5 ttt said:

OK here's what I have a problem with in the NPR article. The woman's son is 23. That's way old enough to either be on his own or if he's living at home, to be working and contributing financially or helping in the responsibility for the care of his grandfather. So you're not "sandwiched", caring for two generations, you have ADULT help!

People who are caring for both aging parents AND small children get my sympathy. People who are "caring" for grown young adults fully capable of working and/or sharing the burden, no.

I didn't read the article, but this assumes the 23 afford to be on his own, and/or that he can get a job. It's possible he's a lazy shit and she is enabling him, but lots of people have had to move home and the only jobs they can get barely cover student loans. If the economy was doing better, I'd agree with you, but I do think this is a real problem for some people. Whether or not she is one of them, I don't know.

FTR, I understand that what I'm describing above is a small minority. I just wondered if that was applicable in this case.

Sure, but if he can't get a job, he can at least cook for his grandfather, keep an eye on him, give him his medicine, etc. so that they don't have to hire someone to do these things.

At any rate, a 23 year old son at home should not be an additional burden, certainly not the way a 3 year old or an 83 year old would be.

[ringstrue]

There are so many different situations its hard for me to see that a whole generation is "sandwiched" across the board vs. individual scenarios. If you have kids under 10 and caring for your parents then I'd call you sandwiched, but like TTT said if you have kids 18 years and older, while they may still *need* you, its not quite the same. Or, you could be only 20 years apart from both your parents and your kids but then your parents living independently into their 90s. My mom is a BBer but definitely not sandwiched.

I agree its aaaall about the BBers.

[lys]

Every generation goes thru the "sandwich" period.

Don't forget all the baby boomers who are now dealing with their elderly parents and their returning grown "children" with families in tow (due to the economy, job loss, divorce etc) draining their retirement fund.

[marie427]

Seems like there are going to be more and more assisted living/nursing home facilities being built, or more of a demand for home health aides; people who go into that industry as a career should have plenty of job opportunities. We see this already but it's only the start of what's to come. I just can't see every sandwiched family member being able to actively take care of their parents and their young families.