The Sandwich Generation: More People Juggle Parenting and Caregiving Responsibilities

CHICAGO, Nov. 30, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- They've been dubbed the "Sandwich Generation"–middle-aged people caring for aging parents while still taking care of their own children.  Pulled in many directions, these family jugglers are at risk for stress, depression and other health problems. Older adults are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population; 10,000 people turn 65 every day. This will continue for nearly 20 years, and that means more and more people will find themselves aiding their aging parents.

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Throughout November, which is National Family Caregiver Month, BeSmartBeWell.com sheds light on the challenges of caregiving and the particular issues facing the Sandwich Generation.  At BeSmartBeWell.com, siblings Chris and Ann share their story of juggling jobs, family and caring for elderly parents.

"I never thought I would have to take care of my parents. I know they are going to get older and they're going to die, but never thought of the in-between," Ann says in a video on the site. Watch Chris and Ann's story.

CAREGIVING: WHAT IS IT?

There are an estimated 65 million family caregivers in the United States. The typical family caregiver is a woman in her mid- to late-40s who works full time and provides an average of 20 hours of care per week to one or more family members. Many don't recognize their role as "family caregiver" or the toll it can take.They just view it as doing what they need to support their family. (Watch What Is It? to learn more about caregiving.)

Yet the strain of juggling so many responsibilities can have a tremendous physical and emotional impact. According to AARP, 40 to 70 percent of caregivers of older adults have clinically significant symptoms of depression.  Family caregivers may also be at higher risk for heart disease, diabetes and cancer.

The good news is there is much the Sandwich Generation can do to maintain physical, mental and emotional health in the face of these challenges, say experts on BeSmartBeWell.com. The first is to take care of themselves so they can continue to take care of others. As caregivers learn to recognize the importance of  setting limits on how much responsibility they can handle and address signs of stress and depression early on, they will be better equipped to navigate this challenging phase of life.

"It's hard for caregivers. They feel like they're failing if they're saying, 'I can't do this anymore; I need someone to help me,'" says Dorothy Northrup of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society in a video on the site. "But this is actually a very healthy response. They're realizing if I'm going to be able to do it, I've got to have some support."

Where can I learn more?

BeSmartBeWell.com/Caregiving is a website that provides practical information to help people prepare for and manage caregiving responsibilities. Produced by the country's largest customer-owned health insurer in collaboration with medical experts and national health organizations, BeSmartBeWell.com features:

• Life stories of real caregivers
• Practical videos featuring caregiving and aging experts
• Reputable resources and links for more information
• Latest caregiving news
• Health quizzes

At the site, visitors can also register for the monthly Spotlight Newsletter and News Alerts for in-depth articles and breaking news on caregiving, mental health and other important health topics.

About Be Smart. Be Well.

BeSmartBeWell.com is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Divisions of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

SOURCE BeSmartBeWell.com