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sandwich generation earsLee M a n n i n g ~ s life putsher in
the fast-growingandwich Generation,
but itdoesn't get theheadlines that BabyBoomers, Gen X and
t:: lYe 0'1.'.Manning, a chemical laboratory
scientist for Bozeman DeaconessHealth Group, and her
husband,Jim, have four children. Besidesraising their youngest,
sixth-grader E.l, the Bozeman couplestill keeps a close eye on
theirdaughter, Lindsey, a freshman atVanderbilt University who
willreturn home for the summer. Twoolder children, John and Katie,
areyoung adults living in Seattle andBozeman.
The mostcommon carerecipient isone's mother.
E.J. MANNINGThe Mannings at a family gathering on FlatheadLake
in July 2011. L-R: Jim Manning, Kay Murphy,John Manning, Katie
Manning, Lindsey Manning,Lee Manning, (foreground).
8 I mont81\l155
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sa d Ich generatloa generation of
people who carefor their agingparents whilesupporting theirown
childrenWhat makes Lee Manning a
Sandwich Generation member isthat her caregiving extends
upwardsas well, to her mother-in-law, KayMurphy. Murphy, who
recently turned90 and has dementia, lives in anassisted living
facility in Bozeman.
"I do quite a bit for her," Manningsaid. "I take care of every
bit of herfinances, and all her mail is sent to ou rhouse."
Other examples of Manning'scaregiving: She keeps her
mother-inlaw stocked in toiletries, arranges tohave Murphy's
prescriptions filled andtakes the older woman to her
doctor'sappointmen ts.
Manning and many otherMontanans find themselves at agenerational
crossroad: These busymiddle-aged people are providingcare to aging
parents, and they're alsoinvolved in raising adolescent childrenand
activities associated with tha t-sports events, concerts, school
plays,teacher conferences and the like.
Wikipedia defines this segmentof the population as "a
generationof people who care for their agingparents while
supporting their ownchildren."
An estimate of the number ofSandwich Generation individuals
inMontana is not available. Yet it's likely
the state's numbers are significant,given Census Bureau
projections thatMontana will soon have on e of thecountry's oldest
populations.A 2009 study titled "Caregiving inthe U.S. - A Focused
Look at ThoseCaring for Someone Age 50 or Older"hints at the size
of the SandwichGeneration. The study, sponsored bythe American
Association of RetiredPersons, estimated that at least 43.5million
caregivers, age 18 or over,equivalent to 19 percent of all
adults,provide unpaid care to an adult familymember who is 50 years
old or older.The most common care recipient isone's mother.The
study found that caregiversand care recipients are
predominatelyfemale and their average ages are 50and 75,
respectively - about two yearsolder than was found in a similar
2004study.
"It's (Sandwich Generationmembership) certainly growingbecause
we're living longer," saidSandy Bailey, family and humandevelopment
specialist at MontanaState University-Bozeman. Montana'saging trend
is especially pronouncedon the Eastern Plains, where DanielsCounty
is a prime example, she said.
Bailey said a particular challengefor Sandwich Generation
members is"they're stretched thin - it's a resourcething. And then
there's a lot ofemotional stress."
The financial strain of providingcare enters the picture, and "a
lot oftime and energy" is required of familycaregivers, she
said.
To help manage the pressures thatSandwich Generation members
andother caregivers feel, MSU Extensionoffers a six-week course
called"Powerful Tools for Caregivers."Developed in Oregon, the
programteaches caregivers to use communityresources, stress
managementtechniques and communication toolsto take better care of
themselves.
Susan Kohler, CEO of MissoulaAging Services, knows aboutSandwich
Generation challenges fromprofessional and personal
experience.Kohler drove to Spokane monthlyto assist two of her
sisters in caring fortheir mother, who lived in an assistedliving
facility until her death about ayear ago. As a single mother
raisingtwo adolescents, Kohler had to juggletheir needs and her
mother's needs.
"There was some resentment that Iwas gone," she said.
A program in Missoula called CareSolutions can help in
situations likehers. It provides for a care manager gointo a
senior's home and, for a fee, doan assessment and assist with ca re
asneeded. This helps with distant care bylessening the number of
trips needed.However, "not everyone has thatresource in their
community," Kohlersaid.
Manning's caregiving began fouryears ago when her
mother-in-law,then 86, sensed approa ching dementiaand decided to
quit driving. Manningsaid she's shouldered more
caregiverresponsibility than her husbandbecause "I have more time
and I'madept at it," due in part to working in anursing home when
she was young.
"The most challenging (part) wouldbe the whole thing of taking
ondecisions for her," Manning said.
"It's a big responsibility. (Forexample), she broke her hip this
fall,and I had to decide where to take herfor rehab," she said.
But there are rewards, too, Manningsaid.
She was able to convince KayMurphy to accompany the family
toFlathead Lake last summer to attendMurphy's grandaughter's
wedding.
"She's just a dear - she's soappreciative for everything I do
forher," Manning said.
An d she returns the appreciationto a mother-in-law who "was
just afantastic grandmother to my children."
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additional resourcesPowerful Tools
program:http://www.montana.edu/wwwhd/PowerfuLTools.htmlMSU
Extension MontGuide publication:"Caregiving: When Our Parents Need
Our Help,"available online at
http://msuextension.org/publications/HomeHealthandFamily/MT200802HR.pdf.
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