You may have heard the term before, but what exactly does the sandwich generation mean? The sandwich generation is a generation of parents in the middle of caring for both older parents and their young children.
As older adults continue to age, more and more moms may find themselves as part of this group. Here’s what that means and how they can find support.
What Does the Sandwich Generation Mean?
The sandwich generation refers to the generation “sandwiched” between caring for two other generations: aging parents and young children. Technically speaking, this group is defined as an adult caring for both another adult aged 65 years or older and a minor under the age of 18.
According to 2024 statistics published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, about 2.5 million individuals are sandwich parents.
Sandwich moms are tasked with being caregivers for their parents or even older adults who aren’t related to them, along with young children. They are caregivers in the middle of two types of people who can require a great deal of care.
Sandwich generation moms can include those who work as paid caregivers for adults and have young children or “unofficial” caregivers who are not paid, but responsible for their parents or another older adult’s care. For instance, some may care for in-laws or another elderly relative.
The article explained that more mothers today find themselves as part of the sandwich parents because of two primary reasons:
- Delayed fertility, meaning more mothers start families later or have pregnancies at older ages than previous generations and
- Increased life expectancy, which has led to older parents living longer and requiring more complex care as they age
A Closer Look
The Pew Research Center explains that about 25% of all American adults are part of the sandwich generation.
Adults in their 40s make up the majority of this generation. In fact, 50% of Americans in their 40s are sandwich parents. Women are also more likely than men to take on elder and child care.
There is also a small subset of parents who care for both an adult over age 65 and an adult child that they support financially.
Sandwich generation caregivers are more likely to experience challenges, such as financial and emotional difficulties, than caregivers who aren’t in the sandwich generation.
What Moms Should Know
Being a part of the sandwich generation can be challenging, but there are also benefits. According to at least one survey, sandwich generation parents report being more satisfied with their family lives than parents who aren’t in the sandwich generation.
They’re also equally as likely to report satisfaction with their financial, social, and community lives. In short, being a “sandwich generation” mom doesn’t have to be a horrible experience.
There can even be benefits to having two generations part of your life. For instance, some benefits could include:
- Increased time with parents.
- More grandparent-grandchild time.
- More companionship.
- Potential support, such as grandparents helping with child care.
That being said, all mothers and parents, especially those caring for others, need resources and support to make it all work. Here are some resources that can help:
- How to Care for Aging Parents: 15 Steps To Take Now for the Future
- 10 Resources To Use When Caring for Aging Parents
- Caring for Kids & Parents: A Sandwich Generation Survival Guide
- One Mom Shares a Powerful Tool She Uses to Manage Her Sandwich Generation Stress
- 10 Time Management Hacks for Sandwich Generation Moms
