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The term sandwich generation is generally applied to adults, mostly women, who are taking care of minor children and their parents simultaneously. Their parents are losing their autonomy, their children’s needs must be met, or their adult children may need financial support. The sandwich generation is taxed mentally, financially, and sometimes physically while they work to meet everyone’s needs. Being in the sandwich generation also contributes to the emotional load for individuals caring for both older and younger family members because they may feel like they exist in two different realities; parents are not technologically savvy and need hands-on computer and phone assistance while kids’ worlds are dominated by technology. And many of these sandwich generation individuals are working or involved with their own career, too.
Additionally, there is the “triple decker” or “club sandwich” generation which is defined as someone taking care of grandchildren to provide support to an adult child while also providing care for a parent. These individuals may be in their 60s caring for toddlers and a parent who is in their 80s. The “open faced” generation is anyone who is non-professionally providing care for an elder.
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