The Sandwich Generation: Effects of Caregiver Burden and Strategies for Assessment

Family members provide care and support to a growing number of aging Americans. Many of these caregivers are part of what is known as the "sandwich generation": individuals in the dual role of caring for their elderly loved ones while simultaneously raising and providing for their children. This role comes with the challenge of juggling multiple responsibilities and carries the risk of compromising one's own physical and mental health needs along with their employment and financial security. Assessment of caregiver burden needs to be integrated as standard practice in primary care in order to provide resources and support to caregivers in the sandwich generation. In this paper we illustrate what makes these sandwich generation caregivers an at risk population and recommend assessment tools meant to facilitate efficient assessment of caregiver burden in primary care.