There are many layers to the \u201csandwich\u201d generation, those with the honor of caring for parents at the same time most are also dedicated to children. Taking a big bite out of the opportunity \u2013 yes, the opportunity, rather than obligation \u2013 can make it an easier bite to swallow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While many Gen X individuals are packing up children for weekend sleepaways and college life at the same time they\u2019re packing up their parents\u2019 homes and deciding \u201cwhat\u2019s next,\u201d the process needn\u2019t be impossible. The same way researching camps, sports programs, and colleges for the offspring is done with intention, time, and spirit, the same should be given for those who raised us who are now in need of attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is important to prioritize self-care for parents<\/strong> in this \u201csandwich\u201d generation who are responsible for balancing the care of both their kids and their elderly parents at the same time, a position that often presents changing family dynamics<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo matter what the age of your parents, now is the time to talk about their future, and it\u2019s important to have regular conversations,\u201d said Joyce Logan, founder of Ruby Care Senior Living Advisors. \u201cMake it your apparent concern rather than that of your parents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Logan, senior support didn\u2019t come naturally, but in caring for the original Ruby, her mother-in-law, she came to understand the care, concern, and needs of the senior community. It was after the passing of Ruby\u2019s husband that Joyce and her husband tried recommending she move closer \u2013 a conversation echoed in many families. Ruby had an idea of what \u201csenior living\u201d meant and it wasn\u2019t a picture she relished. After visiting a number of facilities over a couple of years, Ruby realized there was variety, there was programming, there were options \u2013 and those options were key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s important not just to have the conversations but to do so before you are in the moment,\u201d said Logan, who with Ruby Care Partner Patty Williams, helps families make their way through the maze of senior housing options. Their team also connects clients to a myriad of health care providers. \u201cNinety percent of families making the decisions are in crisis, and that isn\u2019t the time for thinking clearly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n For David Stanley, owner of Custom Caregivers, a full service personal care company, providing eldercare in private homes, assisted living facilities, and retirement communities, the need for encouragement is also key. \u201cThe timing of broaching the subject of moving or support matters and it\u2019s imperative you make it clear you want to help assist with impending challenges,\u201d said Stanley. \u201cIt\u2019s not always about the adult children who \u2018know best,\u2019 but about recognizing how difficult the loss of independence can be, driving, personal business, cooking \u2013 all of it. It\u2019s an invasion of space and it\u2019s not easy for most of us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Part of making the transitional season easier, comes with some not-so-easy conversations. Logan, Stanley, and estate planning, business, and social security attorney Colin Smith all agree about the value \u2013 and critical need \u2013 for power of attorney decisions, for both medical and durable (business) needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cRather than asking the parent \u2018what do you want,\u2019 or \u2018who do you want to handle your business,\u2019 \u2013 sometimes daunting and awkward questions, pose the discussion otherwise,\u201d said Smith. \u201cIt\u2019s critical to deal with these issues before the challenges of lost mental capacity come into play. Then, it\u2019s a real problem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n While power of attorney filings are usually associated with seniors, they are just as important for our students ages 18 and over and for those of us in the generation in-between. If an unforeseen accident happens to your child, just as in the case of our seniors, without the proper paperwork in place \u2013 providing for someone to make healthcare decisions, and the ability to manage money \u2013 a court order might be needed in order for anyone to act on the person\u2019s behalf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking care of your own business \u2013 as long as one is of sound mind is never too soon, and then spark the conversation by saying \u201cI just set up my future for the kids, realizing how important it is, and I\u2019m curious about where you\u2019ve filed yours in case it\u2019s ever needed.\u201d If they\u2019ve made the arrangements, few won\u2019t want you to know, and if they haven\u2019t \u2013 hopefully that\u2019s the kickstart they need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOur seniors have worked over decades for their \u2018fortunes\u2019 and it\u2019s worth the time, money, and energy to protect that,\u201d said Smith, suggesting that a quick online POA isn\u2019t likely the way to go. \u201cIt\u2019s important while each of us are of sound mind to seek council or be sure to otherwise take the appropriate measures to let our families know our wishes.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s difficult to be making the kids\u2019 sandwiches \u2013 while sometimes feeling like your parents want to eat you up for your involvement, but remember \u2013 one bite at a time, chew well, and take it all in.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" There are many layers to the \u201csandwich\u201d generation, those with the honor of caring for parents at the same time most are also dedicated to children. Taking a big bite out of the opportunity \u2013 yes, the opportunity, rather than obligation \u2013 can make it an easier bite to swallow. While many Gen X individuals […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3571,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-name":"","wprm-recipe-roundup-description":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[107,131,298],"ppma_author":[19],"class_list":{"0":"post-3570","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sandwich-generation","8":"tag-advice","9":"tag-sandwich-generation","10":"tag-self-care-for-parents"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/iStock-809282826.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-12 06:09:24","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"authors":[{"term_id":19,"user_id":1,"is_guest":0,"slug":"admin_7odr8iqj","display_name":"admin","avatar_url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/1feee162e18d4afc874b0031f2d89eb6bdad45c74ffc261dcdf93c2cd863d4d2?s=96&d=mm&r=g","0":null,"1":"","2":"","3":"","4":"","5":"","6":"","7":"","8":""}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3570","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3570"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3570\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3572,"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3570\/revisions\/3572"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3571"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3570"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3570"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3570"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goodlife247.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fppma_author&post=3570"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}