Double-duty caregiving can take a toll on members of the so-called “sandwich generation.”
serving as a caregiver to a parent with dementia, as well as caring for children and maintaining social and work relationships; physical, mental and emotional challengesSeveral experts expressed to Fox News Digital.
Experts say the role change can be especially difficult to deal with.
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Dr. Nancy Fry, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Long Island University Post Campus in Brookville, New York, told Fox News Digital, “The role of a parent is to be someone who is respected, respected, and listened to. Go.”
When parents have cognitive decline, questions arise about how to exit traditional parent-child roles“No clear criteria or guidelines,” she said.
Experts say double-duty caregiving can take a toll on members of the so-called “sandwich generation.” (iStock)
Frye continued, “People have spent their lives looking up to their parents, turning to them for advice, and respecting their privacy and autonomy.”
“Now, they find themselves entangled in their parents’ affairs and wondering when to start making decisions for them.”
The stress of the ‘sandwich generation’
According to a 2023 study published in International, “sandwich generation” caregivers – those who are tasked with caring for multiple generations at once, such as parents and children – reported a higher risk of death compared with caregivers of only children. High levels of personal burnout have been reported in the U.S. Journal of Aging and Human Development.
A middle-aged caregiver from Long Island, New York, who asked to remain anonymous, told Fox News Digital that she barely finds time to shower while caring for him. mother with dementia,
“How can I find time for a walk or coffee with friends when I’m afraid she’ll wander off or fall?” He asked.
Those who are tasked with caring for members of multiple generations have reported significantly higher levels of personal burnout than those who only care for children. (iStock)
To protect the caregiver from stress when caring for a parent suffering from an illness such as dementia, health expert Said that it is important to take time out for yourself.
“Caring for a person with dementia can be very stressful,” Frye said. “To take care of someone else, you have to take care of yourself. It’s okay to take a break.”
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Dr. Mark L., chief of neurology at Zucker Hillside Hospital Northwell Health on Long Island, New York. Gordon said caregivers should not hesitate to trust others.
“It’s important to take time for relief and ask for help rather than trying to do it all alone.”
He added, “Like they tell you on airplanes, in an emergency, you should put on your oxygen mask before trying to assist others.”
“How can I find time for a walk or coffee with friends when I’m afraid she’ll wander off or fall?”
Darcy Henry, a certified dementia therapist and licensed nursing home administrator with TruAlta , A Canadian company that provides online support and education for caregivers , That said, caregivers experience a variety of emotions, all of which are valid.
Henry stressed the importance of delegating responsibilities to other family members and outsourcing tasks to Fox News Digital.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are approximately 53 million caregivers in the US as of 2020, up from 43.5 million in 2015. (iStock)
This may mean using community resources, such as meal preparation, grocery delivery, and laundry services.
“It’s really important for your patronage to reach out and get that extra layer of support,” Henry said.
“taking self-care time not selfish. This is necessary.”
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Even for those who can’t leave the house, Henry suggested taking “subtle moments.”
“It could be something as small as taking some deep breaths, doing some stretching, standing outside on your porch or just enjoying a cup of coffee,” she said.
When it comes to talking to children about their grandparents’ condition, one expert said knowledge is power. (iStock)
It is also important to take time for this family relationships And according to Henry, daily check-ins with spouses or partners.
This may include taking a walk after dinner, holding regular family meetings, and discussing the division of responsibilities.
Navigating Difficult Discussions
“If there are any underlying issues in the family, you’ll definitely see them come to the fore once the caregiving role begins,” Henry said.
people should search professional help He advised if the stress of caregiving is affecting the relationship.
“Many families have someone from outside come in and mediate the meetings.”
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Henry said having an outside perspective can help “provide a different lens” to the conversation and ensure everyone is heard.
When communicating, he said it’s important to be respectful and understand boundaries and expectations.
One expert said, “Try to take things as they come, moment by moment.” “Focus on the parent’s good or bad hour or day, as opposed to the parent’s rapid improvement or decline.” (iStock)
When it comes to talking to children Regarding his grandparents’ situation, Henry said that knowledge is power.
“The more you can educate the teen or young adult about what’s going on, the more empathy they can have about the situation.”
“If there are underlying issues in the family, you will definitely see them come to the fore once the caring role begins.”
To help deal with the mood swings often associated with dementia, Henry suggests following stable routines as much as possible and identifying triggers for certain behaviors and developing strategies to prevent them.
“It’s really important to educate yourself about what’s going on in that person’s brain,” Henry said, “because that’ll help you understand that they’re not giving you a hard time, but they’re having a hard time.” Are facing.”
‘One day at a time’
Frye suggested it’s best to adopt a “one day at a time” mentality.
“It’s tempting to take a parent’s situation and behavior – whether good or bad – as a sign of things to come,” he said.
To help deal with the mood swings often associated with dementia, one expert suggested following a stable routine as much as possible and developing strategies to identify and prevent triggers. (iStock)
Frye suggests, “Try to take things moment by moment as they come. Focus on the parent’s good or bad hour or day, rather than the parent’s quick improvement or decline.”
He said it may be helpful to give parents as much authority and autonomy as possible – As long as it’s safe.
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“Decades ago, Ellen Langer did a study in which people in a nursing home were given a plant and told that either they needed to take care of it, or the staff would take care of it,” Fry said.
“Those who were tasked with taking care of their plants lived longer.”
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As of 2020, there are approximately 53 million caregivers in the US.
That’s up from 43.5 million in 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
