If you are like many family caregivers throughout the United States you are a member of what is known as the sandwich generation. This refers to the group of adults who are sandwiched in between caring for their elderly parent and raising their own children. This puts you in a unique position of being able to benefit the different generations of your family while building strong relationships and creating memories and legacies that will be precious to you for years to come. While the emotional benefits of this type of care are clear, it is also important to note that combining efforts for both groups, referred to as multigenerational care, can provide benefits to the care itself as well. When approached properly, caring for your parent and your children can actually help you to simplify your life.
Some of the ways that taking a multigenerational care approach to your sandwich generation responsibilities can simplify your life include:
- Encourage an emotional boost. Keeping your parent’s mental and emotional health high is an important part of your care efforts. In multigenerational care you can help them to achieve this without additional time or effort simply by letting them spend time with your children. They will achieve the emotional boost that you want them to, and your children will feel more emotionally fulfilled, stable, and secure as well.
- Maximize efforts. Simply because your elderly parent and your children are different generations does not mean that they need to receive completely separate care. Maximizing your efforts to benefit both generations at once not only completes these tasks more efficiently, but gives your entire family the benefits of spending more time together. Prepare meals for everyone in the family and make a habit of eating them together. Bring your parent and your children along when you go grocery shopping for everyone. Plan outings that everyone will enjoy.
- Teach your children responsibility. While you do not want to put too much on your children or force them into the caregiver role that you chose, you can teach them responsibility and build their character by encouraging them to help you with certain tasks. Older children can help provide transportation for your parent while younger children can help with household tasks and both can simply spend time with and entertain their grandparent. This is fantastic for both of them and clears up some of your time to focus on other needs.
If you have found that your parent’s needs have increased to the point that you are no longer able to handle them effectively and efficiently, or your own limitations and challenges have changed and you do not feel confident that you can do what you need to do any longer, now may be the ideal time for you to consider starting care for them. A home care provider can fill any care gaps that might exist and help to ensure that your elderly loved one gets everything that they need to stay healthy, happy, and safe throughout their later years. These services can also encourage your loved one to maintain a lifestyle that is more active, independent, and fulfilling throughout their later years. This can be instrumental in easing your caregiver stress and boosting your own mental and emotional health and well-being as they age in place.
If you or an aging loved one are in need of a professional caregiver in Huntington, NY or the surrounding areas, contact the caring professionals at Star Multi Care Services today at (631)956-8835. We are the Right Choice for Home Health Care Services!
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