We’ve all heard the term, "sandwich generation" – that segment of the population caught in the middle of taking care of their children while also acting as caregivers for their aging parents.
Caring for an aging parent can be quite a challenge. This is especially true for adult children who do not have siblings with whom to share the responsibility. However, as any adult child with siblings can tell you, having others to share the caregiving burden is not without challenges of its own.
We’ve all heard the saying, “It takes a village,” with regard to raising children. Similarly, it could be said that “it takes a family” to care for an aging parent.
“As an adult child, having siblings can be a blessing when it comes to caring for a parent who needs ongoing care,” says Susan Irrgang, RN, LNHA, Executive Director at Saunders House in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.