Inevitably, many people will find themselves stuck in the sandwich generation at some time in their lives, juggling caring for their children with looking out for their elderly relatives. While this can be rewarding, and you may want to care for the people that you love, being in the sandwich generation can be hard, and you may find yourself feeling as if you are going to be crushed by the weight of your responsibility at times. As such, here are some top tips for those who are in the sandwich generation.
Look at Assisted Living
If you are struggling to cope with the need to care for your children and your parents, and if your elderly relative’s health is beginning to fail, you should consider looking at senior living facilities for them. You might decide to look at assisted living for your elderly relatives if they are beginning to become more reliant on you and less mobile, and if you have less and less time to give to them due to your other commitments. Luckily, there are many great assisted living facilities across the country where your seniors can have a fantastic time and be well looked after, allowing you to focus on your children and your work in the knowledge that they are safe. When considering a senior living community and apartment home, Brightview assisted living in Long Island suggests you answer the following questions: Is the layout designed to provide a safe living environment? Do the kitchen and community provide the amenities you will need? What kind of technology is offered, like Wi-Fi, to connect to the internet?. This will help you to find a community that is appropriate for your loved one and where they can be happy.
Take Time for Yourself
Even though you might feel as if you need to spend time with each generation around you, and even when you feel as if you have an endless list of chores to do, it is vital that you take time for yourself. This can help to reduce your stress levels and can ensure that you still feel like an individual with their own wants and needs. For instance, you could decide to take up a hobby, which will demand that you take a certain amount of time of your week to devote to it, or you might simply decide to use your free time to go on a walk, take a bath, or meet up with friends.
Split Responsibility
When you are in the sandwich generation, you must not let all of the responsibility for your loved ones rest on you, as this is bad for your own health. Instead, you should make sure that responsibilities are split between you and other relatives or your spouse, if you have one. If not, you should consider hiring a babysitter for your children and home help for your elderly relatives so that your family is not constantly relying on you alone.
Look After Your Own Health
Unless you have your own health, you will be unable to look after your relatives properly. As such, you should make sure that you focus on your own health and wellbeing. For instance, you should get eight hours of sleep a day, eat healthy meals in the right portion sizes, and exercise regularly, even if this is just stretching your legs outside for half an hour or so.
Presented by – Orthobiologics Associates