To honor National Sandwich Generation Month, we’ve decided to analyze the Sandwich Generation concept from a more holistic perspective.

1. Learn, Celebrate, Advocate.
A Time of Family Transition
and Reinvention
The
© 2013 Griswold International, LLC
Lament financial
dependence on
parents
Desire autonomy
yet lack confidence
Feel indecisive
and uncertain
about college/
career path
Struggle to
find a job due
to a poor
economy
Overwhelmed
with new/
increased
responsibilities
Highest prevalence
of anxiety and
depression
compared to
family segments
Struggle to form
new relationships
“quarter-life transition”
All three segments of the family system
simultaneously cope with unique
periods of transition and reinvention
Common needs
and challenges:
IN THEIR WORDS:
“I'm a 26 y.o. male, living at home with my dad and younger brother...I have a
bachelor's degree in business administration, but unfortunately...my student
loan bills, credit card bills and car expenses haven't yet afforded me the
ability to move out on my own yet.”
Common needs
and challenges:
IN THEIR WORDS:
“My dad has Alzheimer’s, mom has heart trouble, mother in law has
emphysema...as the oldest children in both families we are the ‘go to’ ones
as well. I have an incredibly stressful job on top of it all...I try and get my sibs
involved and delegate responsibilities. We made med books for them and
keep them up to date. We involve the neighbors as well. I also have three
kids, grandkids...and their problems to deal with.”
“late-life transition”
Common needs
and challenges:
IN THEIR WORDS:
“My one daughter has all these responsibilities with her job and she has her
children. I don't feel that they should have to take care of us. They should see
us more because we are getting older. But like I said, they got big houses to
take care of. They got yards to keep clean and they're workaholics.”
Feel overwhelmed
and exhausted
from career and
caregiver roles
Adjusting to new/
shifting family
roles as children/
parents age
Feel the need to
reinvent
themselves given
role changes
Lament their own
signs of aging and
think more about
mortality
Anxiety and
depression
Financial
pressures
Desire to focus
on self
Little time for self
“mid-life transition”
Remain in
their home
Ability to adjust
to change
To be productive
Financial security
Independence
A sense of
direction
Live in the
moment;
enjoy life
Stay active
with friends
Value time
with family
Not be a burden
Family Transition Action Plan
Reflect
• Take the time to
acknowledge and mourn
losses
• Write down hopes, goals,
needs and concerns
Act
• Put your plan into
action and expect
bumps in the road.
If this occurs, just
go back and adjust
your plan.
Evaluate
• Set a date for a follow-up meeting and evaluate your
progress. Celebrate even the smallest success, and
use this as a fuel for ongoing planning and support!
Plan
Learn
• Go to:
GriswoldHomeCare.com/Blog
to learn more about
multigenerational family
transition
Share & Validate
• Hold a family meeting
and have each member
of the family unit share
goals/needs/concerns
• A family therapist can
play an important role in
helping your family to
work through transition
• Friends can also be a
great source of support
for you and your family
• Ensure all members of
the family feel heard/
understood
• Develop a plan for
reaching personal/
family goals
• Start small and set
short-term realistic
goals that can be
achieved
• Think about ways
that the family can
work together to
achieve goals
Sources:
www.amazon.com/Quarterlife-Crisis-Unique-Challenges-Twenties/dp/1585421065
www.quarterlifecrisis.com/forums/showthread.php?34431-Mid-twenties-Looking-for-some-advice
www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/study-sandwich-generation-struggling-with-dual-caregiver-responsibilities-65430087.html
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2825742/pdf/nihms-177725.pdf
www.ncoa.org/improve-health/community-education/united-states-of-aging/united-states-of-aging.html
brought to you by:
www.GriswoldHomeCare.com
Most sandwich generation publications focus primarily on the needs and
challenges of the family caregiver. This is both understandable and needed
given the enormous challenge that comes with caring for both young adult
children and aging parents. However, we find that the young adult children and
aging parents are often positioned by experts as the source of the problem. Why
is this? Do all parties not realize that they are all going through a simultaneous
transition? If so, would this understanding be a source of strength and promote
coming together as a family unit?
This infographic will uncover the unique challenges that each segment of
the family experiences when cross-generation transitions collide.
The Young Adult
The Dual Caregiver
The Aging Parents