The Sandwich Generation

By: Hannah Schilling, CMS/Program Development

Our Children for What We Are Experiencing With Our Own Parents

Many adults today find themselves in what is often called the “sandwich generation”: caring for aging parents while also supporting their own children as they step into adulthood.

Put simply, it’s a strange, in-between era of life. We are helping our parents navigate aging, health changes, and increasing care needs, all while we are also watching our children begin to build independent lives of their own.

In the midst of all this, one question still remains that often goes unaddressed: How do we prepare our children for what we are experiencing now, so that one day, they feel more equipped than we did?

Why These Conversations Matter

For many families, conversations about aging, caregiving, and long-term planning happen late, often during moments of stress, crisis, or urgency, rather than in early-stage, preparatory ways.

As members of the sandwich generation, we have a different opportunity. By sharing our experiences in real time, we can help our children better understand:

• What aging can look like over time

• How care needs evolve

• The emotional and logistical realities of supporting loved ones

Bringing Adult Children Into the Conversation

Young adults, especially those just out of college, are often focused on building careers, relationships, and independence. Aging and caregiving may feel distant or abstract.

However, gently including them in conversations can help bridge that gap.

This might look like:

• Talking openly about what you are navigating with your own parents

• Explaining how decisions are made around care, safety, and support

• Sharing what has been confusing, challenging, or unexpected

• Encouraging questions, rather than expecting immediate understanding

Think of it this way: the goal is not to overwhelm, but to build awareness over time.

Modeling, Not Just Explaining

One of the most powerful ways to prepare the next generation is simply by modeling the process.

When children see how their parents:

• Advocate for their own parents

• Navigate healthcare systems

• Balance independence with support

• Ask for help when needed

In witnessing this, they begin to develop a framework for how they might approach these situations in the future.

Making Space for Ongoing Dialogue

Understanding aging and caregiving develops gradually, just as care needs do.

Checking in, revisiting decisions, and sharing updates—helps normalize these topics and makes them less intimidating over time.

It also reinforces that caregiving is not something one person carries alone, but something families can approach together.

Looking Ahead

As parents, we can help our children understand that aging is a natural part of life, and that support, planning, and communication can make a meaningful difference.

By involving them now, we offer them something many of us did not have: a clearer sense of what to expect, and a stronger foundation for navigating it.

A Shared Experience Across Generations

At Care Management Solutions, we understand that caregiving is not just about one individual. It often involves an entire family system, learning and adapting together over time.

If you are part of the sandwich generation and have questions about care, planning, or how to involve your family in the process, we are here to help.