Are You a Member of the Sandwich Generation?

Are you an adult who is concerned about or caring for an aging parent? If so, you're a family caregiver just like me.

Even though family caregivers share many common concerns and experiences, we also have our own unique set of circumstances.

It was journalist, Carol Abaya who adopted three clever ways to describe different types of  family caregivers. She describes family caregivers as “sandwiches."

First, there is the “Traditional Sandwich." This is anyone caring for a child or children while also caring for an aging parent. This term also includes anyone who is financially supporting a college student or an adult child of any age while at the same time, caring for an aging parent.

There’s the “Club Sandwich,"  a term for the person who is in his or her 50s or 60s who has an aging parent, adult children and grandchildren. The term is also used to describe those who are in their 30s and 40s who have children, parents and grandparents.

Then there is the “Open-faced Sandwich," an adult who is involved in the care of an aging loved one or friend.

That’s me.  I’m an “Open-faced Sandwich,"  a daughter whose mother is living with dementia.

In addition to being a family caregiver, I've been involved in the realm of caregiving throughout my worklife. I’ve worked in nursing homes, hospice care, a senior center and a senior residential community. Currently, I work as  client services director with Synergy HomeCare which provides companionship, assistance and care for individuals of all ages.

All of these experiences provide me with the desire to “pay it forward” by sharing what I know and continue to learn.

So as we go on this journey together, what kind of sandwich are you?