The Sandwich Generation

I am an Indian settled in the US. I have been there for three decades. I have been “out of circulation” as a librarian from the work field for a few years due to the fact that I have become a long distance care-giver for my aged mother. Several of my American friends are in situations similar to mine ―that of providing assistance to their retired parents either physically, financially or otherwise. Granted, the older Americans’ way of life is quite different and varied from that of ours, in that they try to lead a more independent life, are much more mobile and the affluent among them living in colder climates become “snow birds” and migrate every winter to warmer states within the US.

On the other hand, lately, a growing number of seniors, particularly single or widowed women try to move closer to their children to either assisted living communities or small independent apartments where their children could drop by easily to help them with doctors’ visits, grocery shopping, etc.

Similarly, I notice in India too, while the custom of aged women living with their children is still prevalent, there is also a growing number who out of necessity are placed in homes for the aged, with frequent visits from their children.

We are a sandwiched generation because we are taking care of our elders and children. No matter where we live, life is the same for us in spite of the global separation of seas and oceans. We all face the same problems. As a woman it teaches me to be patient because you have to attend to the needs of the old and the young (and your own too) and you learn to tackle it differently. Wherever we live, we go through the same situations more or less. The woman is indeed a care-giver.

Vasanthi

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