Have you heard of the “sandwich generation”? It’s a term used to describe individuals who are taking care of both their kids and their aging parents. It’s becoming more and more common in the US, especially among women.
While it’s definitely rewarding to care for both children and parents, it can also be super tough. Women, in particular, tend to take on most of the caregiving responsibilities, which can be a real strain.
Let’s dive into some of the challenges that women in the sandwich generation face.
First up, there’s the issue of time. It can be so hard to find any time for yourself when you’re juggling work, kids, and elderly parents. It’s no wonder these women often feel exhausted and burnt out.
Another big challenge is financial strain. Caring for both kids and aging parents can be really expensive, and many women struggle to make ends meet. Taking time off work to care for loved ones only makes things harder.
Caring for others can also take a big emotional toll. Women in the sandwich generation often worry about their loved ones constantly and find it hard to balance their own needs with those of their family. This can lead to mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
One of the hardest things for these women is feeling like they’re doing it all alone. Without much support from their communities or society at large, they can feel isolated and overwhelmed.
To make things even tougher, the stress and physical demands of caregiving can lead to health issues like chronic pain and heart disease.
So what can we do to help? Here are a few ideas:
- Increase access to affordable childcare
- Provide more resources for caregiving
- Promote workplace flexibility
- Increase awareness and support
Bottom Line
If you’re part of the sandwich generation, what challenges have you faced? We’d love to hear your thoughts!
Please feel free to reach out to us via our contact form, Twitter or Facebook. Should you need help in the aspect of financial growth, please visit my company’s website, LexION Capital.
Elle Kaplan is the founder and CEO of LexION Capital, a fiduciary wealth management firm in New York City serving everyone who feels left out by traditional “Wall Street”, including women and the families they love.
