Sandwich Generation Should Prepare for Needs of Senior Loved Ones

National Association of Social Workers

Survey of social workers finds families are ill-prepared for time, expense, and emotional toll of caring for aging parents.

Resources are available to assist "Sandwich Generation" women, but many are reluctant to ask for help. ____________________________

A recent survey of social workers who provide services to Sandwich Generation women found that this group is ill-prepared for the challenges of caring for older relatives. Sandwich Generation women are defined as those women ages 35 to 64, who are "sandwiched" by the needs of their children and aging parents.

Commissioned by the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the report, "Not Ready for Prime Time: The Needs of Sandwich Generation Women, A National Survey of Social Workers," explores the challenges faced by some 42 million American women who are sandwiched by the needs of their own children and their aging relatives, at a time when women are having children later and their parents are living longer. The squeeze is expected to intensify, as one in five Americans will be 65 or older within the next two decades.  

"As our society's demographics shift, older women will increasingly find themselves shouldering heavier caregiving burdens, but they don't have to do it alone," said Pat Volland, director of NYAM's Social Work Leadership Institute. "Unfortunately, there are barriers to seeking help, because women think they should be self-reliant and able to handle it all. And they often don’t know that health professionals like social workers can help with daily stresses."

In addition to the survey of social workers, 41 Sandwich Generation women were asked to keep a journal for two weeks about their experiences to provide anecdotal support to the social work survey. They wrote about the kinds of tasks they would like help with and they explained why they didn’t seek more support.

"What this research reveals is that many of the things social workers can help with—managing and relieving day-to-day stress and helping to navigate the maze of health and social services that their older relatives need—are precisely the things that women say would most relieve their anxiety and unhappiness," said Dr. Elizabeth Clark, executive director of NASW.

Of the more than 1,400 social workers surveyed:

• The majority report that Sandwich Generation women are not prepared for many aspects of their aging relatives' care. Nearly 75% say they are least prepared to deal with the cost of their aging relatives' care. 
• Two-thirds say a majority of these women underestimate the financial, emotional and physical toll of providing care for aging relatives. 
• Almost half say they hear from Sandwich Generation women that they delay getting help because they feel they should be able to shoulder caregiving responsibilities on their own. 
• Nearly half say they ease caregivers' burdens by providing care management or care coordination for aging relatives. This includes making referrals to health and social services, arranging transportation and food delivery, advising on financial management and benefits, and even acting as a liaison for long-distance care.

Of the Sandwich Generation women who participated in the journaling project, nearly 24% say they didn’t know who to ask for help with day-to-day caregiving responsibilities. 

A New Web Resource: Help Starts Here.org

NASW has developed a resource for Sandwich Generation women and others who are looking for information, advice or a connection to a social worker for themselves or their aging parents—a website called HelpStartsHere.org. To learn more about the survey results, see the Executive Summary on the site.

About the New York Academy of Medicine. Founded in 1847, The New York Academy of Medicine is an independent, non-profit institution whose mission is to enhance the health of the public. NYAM's Social Work Leadership Institute (SWLI) is working to ensure that there are enough social workers to meet the growing demand for professionals trained in the needs and services available to older adults.

About the National Association of Social Workers. The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, D.C., is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 150,000 members. It promotes, develops, and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and communities through its advocacy.