The crunch of the middle years may be very real to people balancing home, family and a job. During the period when families are launching children into adulthood, many are also caring for aging parents. It may be a period of bringing aging parents into the home with the evenings and weekends devoted to meeting their needs. Older relatives facing illness, high medical costs and increasing frailty often find themselves dependent on their grown children. Because that's our choice.
Studies show that most adult children feel very close to their elderly parents.
Today one in six mid-life couples has an aging parent in their home for some period of time. Family ties are strong. It is love that compels us to care for those who once cared for us. The problem is that all the good intentions and affection in the world can't overcome the myriad of problems associated with the sandwich generation and its burden of care. Another reason adult children choose to help aging parents is a sense of duty.