How to Care for Aging Parents Essay -- sandwich generation, taking care

As a parent, you probably think about how to raise happy, well-adjusted children. Many books, articles, and journals describe ways to fulfill your child’s every need and want†¦but what about your parents? How much time do you spend thinking about the happiness of your aging parents and how much information have you seen about caring for aging parents? Are you Part of the Sandwich Generation? Are you a parent caring for your child while also caring for your own parent? Merriam Webster defines "Sandwich Generation" as a generation of people who are caring for their aging parents while supporting their own children.[1] Just how common is it for adults to be â€Å"sandwiched† between aging their parents and their kids? Chances are many people you know are or will be caring for an aging parent at some point in their lives. By 2030, there will be more than 72 million people over the age of 65 in the United States.[2] In 2012, 47% of adults aged 40 to 50s have a parent over 65 and they are either raising a young child or providing financial support to an adult child. One-in-seven middle-aged adults are financially supporting an aging parent and a child. Are you also providing another type of support? You're probably not alone. If you are caring for a parent, you most likely feel a tremendous duty to take care of and help make decisions about your aging parents’ health, finances, day-to-day functioning, and overall well-being. You are taking on a huge responsibility that you probably never imagined you would have. According to the Pew research center, â€Å"Adults who are part of the sandwich generation-that is, those who have a living parent age 65 or older and are either raising a child under age 18 or supporting a grown child- are pulled in... ...ell as grief & loss counseling. Her work with diverse populations has allowed her to understand and connect with people of all walks of life, which earned her the title of Life Transitions Specialist ® by her colleagues and patients. As part of her commitment to her community, Francine lectures and provides workshops throughout Los Angeles County on aging, caregiving, and other topics of interest to various organizations and clinics. Francine has also contributed to online publications including SheKnows.com, ABCNews.com, Forbes Woman, Next Avenue, Fox News, and AgingCare.com. When not wearing her clinical hat, Francine spends her free time with her husband and children. Click the image below to visit Francine’s site, L. A. Talk Therapy for information about individual counseling and consultations for families who need help navigating their parent's aging process.