With more than 10,000 people turning 65 a day, it’s very possible that you have had to consider challenges in family care that were previously obscure to you. Such precipitous circumstances commonly trigger emotional angst- anxiety, fear, anger, shame, sadness and even panic.
The most affected age groups are those in their 4th and 5th decades, due to their novel position as caretaker of both children under 18yo and their aging adult parents. Both of those populations require considerable attention. Ultimately, this can lead to caretaker fatigue from the dichotomous nature of responsibilities imposed.
The ‘sandwich generation’ is the expression created to label this intriguing group of individuals and develop awareness so that they don’t feel alone. Recognizing how to navigate the challenges is essential to avoiding burnout and optimizing your role to all parties involved.
Take a listen to a recent interview with Bruce Ferrell of WPTF radio for further elaboration on this topic. Stay tuned for more to come.
-Teresa Reid, RN, PA-C
Synergy HomeCare of Gastonia
