Supporting the Healthcare Needs of Sandwich Generation Caregivers

Published in

Hello Alpha

4 min readJun 1, 2023

Members of the sandwich generation simultaneously care for children and aging parents, which creates unique needs for their own individual care.

The term “sandwich generation” describes young to middle-aged adults who are not only raising their own children but also providing care for their aging parents. In addition to those responsibilities, these caregivers often have a paying job outside the home. It’s a common scenario in the United States, with about 23% of adults falling into this category. Being a caregiver in the sandwich generation can be a very tough job, and it’s often emotionally, physically, and financially draining. There is healthcare support for the kids and older parents, with care available through pediatricians and geriatric medicine specialists; but what about the care needed for the sandwich-generation caregivers themselves? Traditional healthcare still involves the need for administrative tasks and advocacy, which adds to the burden that these caregivers shoulder.

Sandwiched caregivers have unique challenges

According to a recent study from the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, being a caregiver in the sandwich generation is a different experience than being a caregiver to just an older adult. In fact, sandwich-generation caregivers were found to report more significant emotional difficulties (44% vs. 32%) than those who only provide care for a parent over the age of 65. Additionally, those who find themselves in the middle of a caregiving sandwich tend to experience higher levels of overload compared to those with sole responsibility for an older adult. Interestingly, both groups of caregivers reported similar levels of positive impacts from caregiving.

These findings shed light on the unique challenges faced by sandwich-generation caregivers, who have to balance the demands of both raising children and caring for aging parents. It’s important to recognize the emotional toll that this can take and to seek support when needed. Despite the difficulties, many caregivers in this situation also experience positive benefits from their role, such as a sense of fulfillment and strengthened family bonds.

Caregivers and mental health

Mental health is just as important as physical health, especially for the caregiver population; one in five caregivers reports having constant stress in their lives and one in four admits the reality of caregiving is emotionally taxing. Everyone experiences stress, but there is a silent health crisis sometimes called “caregiver depression” because rates of depression among family caregivers are approximately twice that of the general population.

Anxiety also affects many caregivers, especially sandwich-generation caregivers. Managing too many responsibilities, feelings of not being in control of the situation, fear for a loved one’s well-being, and financial and healthcare coverage stressors can bring on various states of anxiety in a caregiver. In addition, caregivers often report job problems, health issues, lack of sleep, and little time to do the things they enjoy.

Clinical research in publications like The Gerontologist and the Journal of Gerontology: Psychological Sciences shows that women caregivers struggle more than men, reporting higher levels of depression and anxiety and lower wellbeing, life satisfaction, and physical health.

“Health care providers should pay special attention to the individuals that act as caregivers to two generations and are members of the workforce at the same time,” says Hello Alpha Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Mary Jacobson. “Caregivers are excellent candidates for whole person care, which involves looking at the whole person — not just separate organs or body systems — and considering all the multifaceted elements that promote either health or disease. Helping sandwich-generation caregivers specifically to improve their health in multiple interconnected biological, behavioral, social, and environmental areas will be the most impactful approach.”

Sandwich-generation caregivers are mostly women

The broader caregiving crisis is a women’s health issue, and so is sandwich-generation caregiving. An estimated 66% of informal family caregivers are women. Nearly 1.8 million women left their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic in order to care for family members. Working moms and single parents who managed to maintain their jobs suffocated under the increased responsibilities of work, household management, and caregiving.

Caregiving duties are often time-intensive, which often means caregivers are unable to spend the necessary time on their own health care needs. In a national survey, 21% of female caregivers surveyed had mammograms less often. A quarter of women caregivers have health problems as a result of their caregiving responsibilities and more than 20% of caregivers rate their own health as fair or poor, an AARP report found.

About Hello Alpha

Hello Alpha is the only nationwide virtual primary care platform specializing in women’s health. Alpha focuses on women of all ages, delivering whole person care optimized for their unique behavioral and physical needs. By offering care asynchronously, meaning no appointments and completely at the patient’s convenience, we can provide the flexibility needed by caregivers.

Preventive health, treatment for anxiety and depression, weight management, and even visits with a registered dietitian are all included in an Alpha membership. For employers valuing diversity and inclusion, partnering with Hello Alpha leads to a more accessible, equitable system to care for the whole person — from part time and contingent workers to full-time employees and their dependents.

To learn more about supporting caregivers, please read our blog post, “Caring for Caregivers in the Workplace.”

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Supporting the Healthcare Needs of Sandwich Generation Caregivers

Written by Hello Alpha Team