Make good use of On Lok Home Elderly Services to reduce stress for generations with sandwich

Ray Chu, the community client manager at On Lok, provided valuable insights into the challenges faced by the “sandwich generation,” individuals between the ages of 40 and 60 who are responsible for both aging parents and young children. He emphasized the significant pressure they experience and the importance of leveraging social resources to help mitigate that stress.

“We used to view someone as an elder at 60, but with today’s advancements in healthcare and longer life expectancy, that age is now considered quite young,” Ray explained. This demographic shift has led to the emergence of the sandwich generation, which encounters numerous challenges. Foremost among these is the pressure of time. Balancing job responsibilities with the needs of children—like providing rides to school and extracurricular activities—while also caring for sick elderly parents can be extremely overwhelming. Additionally, meal preparation must accommodate the dietary requirements of both age groups. “For instance, older adults should limit their intake of sweets and salty foods,” he noted.

Financial strains also add to these challenges, as children require investment in quality education and extracurricular programs. While healthcare for the elderly may be covered by insurance, there are often additional out-of-pocket expenses for other forms of care. Moreover, members of the sandwich generation must navigate psychological pressures and concerns about career advancement as they try to juggle these multiple responsibilities.

To help manage these pressures, Ray suggested several strategies. He encouraged seeking external support, such as hiring a caregiver or asking family members for help with school pickups, which can significantly ease the burden. Effective time management is essential; Ray stressed the necessity of meticulously planning tasks throughout the day, from preparing breakfast to school drop-offs. He also highlighted the importance of self-care, recommending that individuals cultivate hobbies, engage in regular exercise, and maintain social connections to boost mental health. In some instances, consulting a therapist or mental health professional could be beneficial as well.

Ray pointed out that various non-profit and private organizations offer childcare services. Community centers provide numerous programs aimed at assisting the sandwich generation, allowing them to share the load of their many responsibilities. For example, On Lok offers a comprehensive service for elderly care that includes medical services, transportation, home care, and social work support. “This streamlines the process for the sandwich generation—there’s no need to navigate multiple sources for help, like scheduling doctor appointments and arranging medication pickups separately, which can be time-consuming and exhausting,” he commented.

Currently, On Lok operates seven adult day care centers across the Bay Area, including locations in San Francisco, Fremont, and Santa Clara County, all offering a wide range of care services for the elderly. Those interested in On Lok’s home care, medical services, meal delivery, transportation, or physical therapy can call (866) 526-9622 or scan the QR code in the World Journal advertisement for more information.