4 Ways Senior Caregivers Support Brookfield’s ‘Sandwich Generation’

According to the American Association of Retired Persons’ Caregiving in the US 2020 report, the majority of Brookfield’s informal caregivers are members of the “Sandwich Generation,” sandwiched between competing child and senior care responsibilities, while also trying to find time for their careers.

Among their findings, AARP researchers reported that:

• Nearly 1 in 5 (19%) of families are now providing unpaid care to adults with health or functional needs
• Nearly 1 in 4 (24%) of caregivers are now responsible for more than one person, up from 18% in 2015
• Nearly 1 in 4 (23%) of caregivers report that their health has worsened as a result of their multigenerational care commitments
• Nearly 2 in 3 (61%) of family caregivers are also working

This is a relatively new phenomenon, resulting from longer life expectancies and seniors’ increasing reliance on help from unpaid family caregivers. But while the term “Sandwich Generation” was only recently coined, the effects of multigenerational care commitments are already well-established in caregiver research.

For example, in one study titled “Pulled from All Sides: The Sandwich Generation at Work,” Ann O’Sullivan (2015) noted how “those who are raising children and assisting older adult family members are at risk for issues related to physical and emotional health, balancing work and family responsibilities, and taking care of themselves” (p. 491).

In fact, a comprehensive review of literature reveals a host of physical and emotional health problems linked to “caregiver burden,” a chronic stress disorder that has disproportionately affected members of the Sandwich Generation in Brookfield, WI.

Fortunately, “caregiver burden” is both preventable and curable, and Always Best Care is here to help.

Read on to learn 4 ways our senior caregivers are supporting Brookfield’s “Sandwich Generation,” or call (262) 439-8616 to speak directly with a caregiver coordinator near you.

4 ways senior caregivers support Brookfield’s “Sandwich Generation”

1. Always Best Care provides respite on-demand. The best way to prevent caregiver burnout is to lift the burden before it takes its toll, which means relieving unpaid caregivers from their duties so they can find time for self-care, rest, and time to recharge with family and friends. Unfortunately, this is easier said than done, as the AARP reports that 26% of caregivers now struggle to coordinate care for their loved ones. But our respite care services are available on-demand and in any care setting, with no long-term contract requirements, so you can always get help when you need it.
2. Always Best Care provides true peace of mind. Even when family caregivers are overburdened, it can be tough to entrust the safety of your loved ones to somebody else. And if you aren’t relaxed, you cannot recover, and your respite care service goes to waste. We understand this, which is why we invest so much into our employee screening, training, and performance monitoring. All caregivers must complete rigorous reference reviews, background checks, and in-person interviews, and they must meet our exacting training standards before they’re licensed, bonded, and insured.
3. Always Best Care simplifies assisted living placements. Many informal caregivers struggle to provide care because of the state of the home care environment. If your loved one cannot confidently go up and down the stairs without support, for example, but they live in a multi-story home, caring becomes much more difficult and labor-intensive. Moving your loved ones to a senior-friendly living facility can greatly reduce the strain of caregiving.Unfortunately, many unpaid caregivers already struggle to find enough hours in the day, so the prospect of researching local assisted living facilities can be daunting. But our caregivers are here to help. We offer full support with assisted living placements, including personalized recommendations, help with research, and guided tours of any facilities you choose, and we can even help your loved one pack and unpack on move-in day.
4. Always Best Care connects caregivers with community resources. After more than 13 years serving Brookfield seniors, we’ve discovered plenty of free senior programming and support resources in the community, all of which we’ll be happy to share with you.

Consult with a caregiver coordinator in Brookfield, WI

To learn more about how we’re supporting local caregivers, and get a free quote on any custom care plan, you can:

• Call (262)-439-8616
• Email [email protected]
• Fill out our online contact form

References

O’Sullivan, A. (2015). Pulled from all sides: The sandwich generation at work. Work, 50(3), 491-494.