If you are a caregiver...

​

...you likely find yourself stuck - between the needs, well-being, and happiness of the

person for whom you care and your own.  You may struggle to have time for your children, your

spouse,  your job, your health care needs, your hobbies, and/or your own general well-being. The

list could go on and on.  You,  my friend, are sandwiched.  Synonyms for sandwiched include

"wedged, crammed, shoved and jammed" - not such positive words, are they? Welcome to the

Sandwich Counter, where you are precariously perched on a stool, wedged between the two

worlds,  trying to keep your balance and your sanity.

For many years, I was the Director of a large, statewide non-profit that served 

caregivers. I interacted with, learned from, and advised caregivers daily.  I knew of the term "Sandwich Generation" but I quickly discovered that it is not just about one generation or one age group.   If you are a caregiver, whether you are the 85-year-old spouse, the 43-year-old daughter, or the 19-year-old grandson, you are sandwiched.  Then, as fate would have it, I found myself in the role of caregiver for my own mother.   I began to experience the myriad of challenges and the range of emotions that I had seen in others.  I, too, felt crammed and jammed between my mother and all of her needs and my own needs, my job, my husband and at times, my sanity. It left like I was perched right there, precariously on the edge, about to lose my balance! 

​

In many cases, there are few resources for caregivers. In addition,  we cannot change a diagnosis, or the course of a disease.   We cannot go back and stop an accident. But we can educate ourselves, find support, and develop coping strategies to ease the  emotional challenges.  Whether you live with the person for whom you care, or live a distance away, whether you are new to the role of caregiver or have been  filling that role for sometime,  whether you provide all the care yourself, or you oversee the care - doesn't matter.    Each comes with challenges. and you are sandwiched.  This is now your new normal.  I hope to help you with some of the challenges and let you know you are not alone.