Learn, Celebrate, Advocate.

A Time of Family Transitionand Reinvention

The

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Lament financial dependence on parents

Desire autonomy yet lack confidence

Feel indecisive and uncertain about college/ career path

Struggle to find a job due to a poor economy

Overwhelmed with new/ increased responsibilities

Highest prevalence of anxiety and depression compared to family segments

Struggle to form new relationships

“quarter-life transition”

All three segments of the family systemsimultaneously cope with unique

periods of transition and reinvention

Common needsand challenges:

IN THEIR WORDS:

“I'm a 26 y.o. male, living at home with my dad and younger brother...I have a bachelor's degree in business administration, but unfortunately...my student loan bills, credit card bills and car expenses haven't yet afforded me the ability to move out on my own yet.”

Common needsand challenges:

IN THEIR WORDS:

“My dad has Alzheimer’s, mom has heart trouble, mother in law has emphysema...as the oldest children in both families we are the ‘go to’ ones as well. I have an incredibly stressful job on top of it all...I try and get my sibs involved and delegate responsibilities. We made med books for them and keep them up to date. We involve the neighbors as well. I also have three kids, grandkids...and their problems to deal with.”

“late-life transition”

Common needsand challenges:

IN THEIR WORDS:

“My one daughter has all these responsibilities with her job and she has her children. I don't feel that they should have to take care of us. They should see us more because we are getting older. But like I said, they got big houses to take care of. They got yards to keep clean and they're workaholics.”

Feel overwhelmed and exhausted from career and caregiver roles

Adjusting to new/ shifting family roles as children/ parents age

Feel the need to reinvent themselves given role changes

Lament their own signs of aging and think more about mortality

Anxiety and depression

Financial pressures

Desire to focus on self

Little time for self

“mid-life transition”

Remain intheir home

Ability to adjust to change

To be productive

Financial security

Independence

A sense of direction

Live in the moment; enjoy life

Stay active with friends

Value time with family

Not be a burden

Family Transition Action Plan

Reflect• Take the time to acknowledge and mourn losses

• Write down hopes, goals, needs and concerns

Act• Put your plan into action and expect bumps in the road. If this occurs, just go back and adjust your plan.

Evaluate• Set a date for a follow-up meeting and evaluate your

progress. Celebrate even the smallest success, and use this as a fuel for ongoing planning and support!

Plan

Learn• Go to: GriswoldHomeCare.com/Blog to learn more about multigenerational family transition

Share & Validate• Hold a family meeting and have each member of the family unit share goals/needs/concerns

• A family therapist can play an important role in helping your family to work through transition

• Friends can also be a great source of support for you and your family

• Ensure all members of the family feel heard/ understood

• Develop a plan for reaching personal/ family goals

• Start small and set short-term realistic goals that can be achieved

• Think about ways that the family can work together to achieve goals

Sources:www.amazon.com/Quarterlife-Crisis-Unique-Challenges-Twenties/dp/1585421065www.quarterlifecrisis.com/forums/showthread.php?34431-Mid-twenties-Looking-for-some-advice www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/study-sandwich-generation-struggling-with-dual-caregiver-responsibilities-65430087.htmlwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2825742/pdf/nihms-177725.pdfwww.ncoa.org/improve-health/community-education/united-states-of-aging/united-states-of-aging.html

brought to you by:

www.GriswoldHomeCare.com

Most sandwich generation publications focus primarily on the needs and challenges of the family caregiver. This is both understandable and needed given the enormous challenge that comes with caring for both young adult children and aging parents. However, we find that the young adult children and aging parents are often positioned by experts as the source of the problem. Why is this? Do all parties not realize that they are all going through a simultaneous transition? If so, would this understanding be a source of strength and promote coming together as a family unit?

This infographic will uncover the unique challenges that each segment of the family experiences when cross-generation transitions collide.

The Young Adult

The Dual Caregiver

The Aging Parents