Being part of the “sandwich generation” can be overwhelming, as William Morrison from Nashville, Tennessee, is about to experience, with a baby boy on the way and concerns about taking care of his wife, son, and mom at the same time.
Nearly a quarter of all American adults fall into this category, according to research. In fact, half of all adults in their 40s are part of the sandwich generation.
Jason McAnally, a Nashville father of two, helps care for his aging dad and has found that being self-sufficient is no longer an option.
He said, “I have kind of prided myself on being self-sufficient. And in this season of life, that’s almost been laughable.”
Hosts Cara Anthony of KFF Health News and Blake Farmer of Nashville Public Radio, both part of the sandwich generation themselves, explore the challenges of handling health and caregiving in a one-hour special, discussing topics such as identity and FMLA.
They also examine kids and mental health, and early-onset cancer, featuring researchers, physicians, experts, and personal experiences, including when to start calling yourself a caregiver and why it matters.
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The hosts talk about how to start a conversation with your boss about taking federally protected leave from work, and how to know when it’s time to take an anxious child to therapy.
They look at what you need to know about spotting diseases that are on the rise among people under 50, such as early-onset cancer.
The team acknowledges the messiness, humor, and beauty of this season of life, and the special is part of their reporting on caregiving among the sandwich generation, providing approachable guidance to an often complex healthcare system.
For more information, you can check out the series archive, which features a range of topics related to health and caregiving.
The HealthQ series is a collaboration between Nashville Public Radio and KFF Health News, aiming to provide approachable guides to an unapproachable healthcare system.
It’s a collaboration between Nashville Public Radio and KFF Health News.
