Pulled from all sides: The sandwich generation at work

Issue title: Special Section 2: The Significant Work of Parenting

Article type: Research Article

Authors: O'Sullivan, Ann

Affiliations: Family Caregiver Support Program, Southern Maine Agency on Aging, 136 US Route One, Scarborough, ME 04074, USA. Tel.: +1 207 396 6541; E-mail: aosullivan@smaaa.org

Abstract: Employees who are members of the "sandwich generation", those who are raising children and assisting older adult family members, are a population at risk for issues related to physical and emotional health, balancing work and family responsibilities, and taking care of themselves. This commentary examines their situation and challenges, some of the potential negative effects of these compounded stressors, and recommends strategies that employers, families, and the individuals themselves can use to create a sustainable work/caregiving situation.

Keywords: Family caregiver, employee caregiver, eldercare

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-141959

Journal: Work, vol. 50, no. 3, pp. 491-494, 2015