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The roles of caring for elderly parents with conditions like dementia while still looking after children intensify the physical, emotional, and mental struggles for members of the so-called “sandwich generation”, according to expert opinions shared with Fox News Digital. The task can be particularly challenging when the traditional parent-child roles are reversed with no definite guidelines or norms to abide by, remarked Dr. Nancy Frye, Ph.D., a psychology professor from Long Island University Post Campus.
Also, a study published in the International Journal of Aging & Human Development in 2023 revealed that caregivers juggling these simultaneous responsibilities reported significantly higher instances of personal burnout than those providing care exclusively to children. Experts insist that caregivers should structure out some personal time to avoid burnout and encourage seeking outside help.
Another piece of advice from Darci Henry, a licensed nursing home administrator with Trualta, a Canadian company that provides online caregiver support programs, includes delegating tasks to others in the family or outsourcing. Speaking on caring for individuals with dementia, she suggests learning more about the condition for better understanding and developing strategies to manage mood swings often associated with it.
Dr. Marc L. Gordon from Zucker Hillside Hospital Northwell Health suggested that caregivers should focus on the present rather than predict the future based on their parent’s current condition. Dr. Nancy Frye further emphasized the importance of giving parents as much independence as possible where safe.
The number of caregivers in the U.S. has leapt from 43.5 million in 2015 to around 53 million in 2020, according to CDC data.
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