The ‘Sandwhich Generation’ – Caring for Elderly Parents and Children

The ‘sandwich generation’ is the caught in the middle generation who are looking after their living parents and children. The term often refers to the middle aged people who support both their parents and their children financially or physically or emotionally. Research has found that this phenomenon is due to people leaving it a lot later to have children and older people living longer as medical care improves. 

The ‘Sandwich generation’ are suffering from increased levels of stress and mental ill-health, finding it hard to find a balance. It is no wonder that many are tempted to look into residential homes for their elderly loved ones. However, we believe that this does not need to be an option. 

Care homes for those suffering from dementia or Alzhiemer’s can be very disorienting adding confusion and deteriorating their condition. In 2020 during lockdown the Alzheimer’s society investigation found that ‘79% of care homes reported that the lack of social contact caused the deterioration in the health and well being of their residents with dementia’. This highlights the need for social interaction for elderly people but also the idea that care homes can guarantee this one to one social interaction. 

As care homes offer residence to elderly people with many different conditions it is difficult to get that one to one care that you would get from a live-in carer or home care with the added bonus of staying in your own home. 

We advise keeping your elderly loved ones in their home surrounded by what is familiar to them, however we understand this is not always easy or financially possible. 

The cost of care varies around the country, however on average a residential care home can cost between £800 – £1200 per week. Our live-in care ranges from £1,100 to £1,600 per week but can exceed this depending on complex and specialist care needed. You are not only getting a hand selected carer suited to your needs and personality but also the benefit of staying where you know best. And ultimately take a huge amount of pressure and responsibility off the ‘sandwich generation’.

If you are interested in live-in or domiciliary care for your loved ones, contact us today.