Thanks to amazing advances in medicine and science, we are living longer than ever. Because of this, those caring for both children and senior parents, sometimes known as the “sandwich generation”, are finding a new niche in their older years: the boomerang generation.
“Aging together” is the label for seniors whose parents are still living and needing caregiving. The result is that after retirement, many seniors are uprooting and returning back to their home-towns to become senior caregivers to their elderly parents. And perhaps, the senior child is struggling with his or her own medical concerns, further complicating the dynamics and generating a higher risk for caregiver burnout – on both sides of the equation.
Associate Professor of Gerontology Kathrin Boerner, of the University of MA, describes the predicament: “For a lot of people, that is the time – if you’re in good enough health – you hope for a time of greater freedom. You’re past all the other caregiving tasks and, for most people, they can dedicate time to their own needs. But for those with very old parents, it just doesn’t happen.”
While the recreated bond between older adult children and their elderly parents can be beneficial for all involved, such as through finding shared interests that can be experienced together, the toll that caregiving can take later in life may lead to increased levels of stress, depression, and also physical health issues.
The good news is, there’s a strategy to supply the beneficial care for senior children in addition to their elderly parents, allowing for both to focus solely on having quality time together: hiring an in-home caregiver from a professional senior care agency like Home Sweet Home In-Home Care. We’re able to assist in several different ways, tailored to each family’s particular situation, including such services as:
- Running errands, including grocery shopping and picking up prescription drugs
- Planning and preparing healthy meals
- Assisting with light household chores and washing
- Personal care services which include assistance with washing and dressing
- Providing transportation and accompaniment to health care appointments or fun outings
- And much more
Our caregivers are thoroughly background checked, trained, and proficient in all aspects of proper care. Leave the tedious tasks to us, and get back to enjoying life with those you love! Contact Home Sweet Home In-Home Care, top providers of Kalamazoo senior care, to learn how we can ease the burden of senior caregivers.
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