Unpacking Sandwich Caregiving (with Deanne Poulos)

More than 11 million Americans are caring for an aging parent while raising their own children at home. This is what experts* call “Sandwich Caregiving” where the adults are providing for both their parents and own young families.  Our guest, Deanne Poulos with Duet: Partners in Health and Aging, shares what you should think about as you develop a plan for becoming a caregiver to someone with dementia while also caring for children. She offers practical advice to caregivers about managing expectations and utilizing your family and friends to share some of the responsibilities as you redistribute roles and communicate goals of care. We discuss maintaining a sense of home for each family member as 3 different generations blend together, creating new traditions, and focusing less on minute details.

*National Alliance for Caregiving and Caring Across Generations, 2019.