Struggling and stressed - helpful tips for the "sandwich" generation

The "sandwich" generation is a concept that's all too familiar with the estimated one million Canadians who live it everyday. Literally sandwiched between two generations, many of them are struggling to raise their children, care for an aging loved one, and lead their own lives, including holding down full-time jobs.

Since this generation is expected to increase in numbers in the coming years, many services and products have been developed to help them cope with their multi-faceted roles. In particular, services associated with care-giving responsibilities are rapidly growing in popularity.

Special events

For example, the holiday season is quickly approaching, a time when festivities and gatherings can translate into additional stress for everyone. As parents age, preparing their home for family and friends can be overwhelming, and in some cases, next to impossible.

To ease the workload, you might want to consider hiring a cleaning service. There are numerous nationwide professional companies that are affordable and reliable. They even bring their own supplies and cleaning equipment. So, why not have cleaning specialists tackle the household chores around the holidays and throughout the year?

Services available

In addition to cleaning, hiring professionals to handle other daily activities for your loved ones means you can rest assured that they are happy, healthy and safe. Consider enlisting the services of a local dog walker or grocery delivery service to bear some of the burden.

By hiring a dog walker to take your parents' pooch for a much-needed walk, you can know that icy sidewalks and slick surfaces won't get the best of them. As well, many dog walkers offer discounted rates for clients who keep a regular weekly schedule.

Having groceries delivered to mom and dad is another handy way to make sure they stay healthy. When meat, milk and other daily staples are brought right to their front door, you won't have to worry about them struggling with heavy bags, or finding the time to take them to the store. If cooking isn't their strong suit, other services deliver pre-cooked, homemade meals such as meatloaf or chicken potpie.

While your parents might need assistance with daily activities, aging doesn't necessarily mean they have to stop doing the things they love. Many seniors remain active and have a strong desire to try new hobbies or activities. By getting out of the house a few days, or even a few hours a week for physical and mental stimulation, maturing adults can stay young at heart.

Adult daycare

Adult daycare is another viable way to help keep aging parents active. Much like children's daycare, adult daycare allows your parents to spend time at a centre specifically designed for their needs. There they can socialize and interact with peers while receiving mental and physical stimulation through discussions, exercises, arts and crafts, reminiscence time, games, sing-a-longs, field trips, etc.

Canadians across the country are taking advantage of options like these to help manage the "sandwich" generation stress, and ease their minds from the worry that comes with elderly parents, children, and a career to manage. Finding help from an outside source isn't just a great way to make sure your parents are cared for, but it will also provide you with some much-needed peace of mind.