Sandwiched Mother/Daughters Not Prepared to Care for
Aging Parents
Many reluctant to ask for help or don't
know where to turn.
March 20, 2008 - The first survey of social workers
who provide services to sandwich generation women -- women between the
ages of 35 and 54 who are "sandwiched" by the needs of their children
and their aging parents -- found that this group, which typically
shoulders a family's caregiving burdens, is ill-prepared for the
challenges of caring for older relatives.
The services social workers provide to sandwich
generation women include advising on care coordination for their aging
relatives, but many women delay getting support because they are
reluctant to ask for help or don't know who could help.
Commissioned by the New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM)
and the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), the report, "Not
Ready for Prime Time: The Needs of Sandwich Generation Women, A National
Survey of Social Workers," explores the challenges faced by some 42
million American women who are sandwiched by the needs of their own
children and their aging relatives, at a time when women are having
children later and their parents are living longer. The squeeze is
expected to intensify, as one in five Americans will be 65 or older
within the next two decades.
"As our society's demographics shift, older women
will increasingly find themselves shouldering heavier caregiving
burdens, but they don't have to do it alone," said Pat Volland, director
of NYAM's Social Work Leadership Institute. "Unfortunately, there are
barriers to seeking help because women think they should be self-reliant
and able to handle it all. And they often don't know that health
professionals like social workers can help with daily stresses. "
In addition to the survey of social workers, 41
sandwich generation women were asked to keep a journal for two weeks
about their experiences to provide anecdotal support to the social work
survey. They wrote about the kinds of tasks they would like help with
and they explained why they didn't seek more support.
"What this research reveals is that many of the
things social workers can help with -- managing and relieving day-to-day
stress and helping to navigate the maze of health and social services
that their older relatives need -- are precisely the things that women
say would most relieve their anxiety and unhappiness," said Dr.
Elizabeth Clark, executive director of NASW.
Key Findings
Of the more than 1,400 social workers surveyed:
-- The majority report that sandwich generation
women (SWG) are not prepared for many aspects of their aging relatives'
care. Nearly 75% say they are least prepared to deal with the cost of
their aging relatives' care.
-- Two-thirds say a majority of SWG underestimate
the financial, emotional and physical toll of providing care for aging
relatives.
-- Almost half say they hear from SWG that they
delay getting help because they feel they should be able to shoulder
caregiving responsibilities on their own.
-- Nearly half say they ease caregivers' burdens by
providing care management or care coordination for aging relatives. This
includes making referrals to health and social services, arranging
transportation and food delivery, advising on financial management and
benefits, and even acting as a liaison for long-distance care.
Of the sandwich generation women who participated
in the journaling project, nearly 24% say they didn't know who to ask
for help with day-to-day caregiving responsibilities.
Dr. Clark notes that NASW has developed a resource
for sandwich generation women and others who are looking for
information, advice and or a connection to a social worker for
themselves or their aging parent -- a Web site called
http://www.helpstartshere.org/.
According to a NASW Center for Workforce Studies
survey of licensed social workers, only 9% of social workers today
specialize in aging care. The National Institute of Aging estimates that
the U.S. will need a 40% increase -- 20,000 additional -- social workers
specializing in aging care by 2020.
Methodology
Researchers surveyed 1,489 social workers and
geriatric care managers from December -- November 2007 with a random
selection of members of NASW and the National Association of
Professional Geriatric Care Managers who work with sandwich generation
women. This group of women are between the ages of 35 and 54 and have
both a child of their own and at least one living parent. The margin of
error is +/- 3.0%. As part of the research, 41 women were asked to keep
a journal for two weeks.
About the New York Academy of Medicine
Founded in 1847, The New York Academy of Medicine
is an independent, non-profit institution whose mission is to enhance
the health of the public. NYAM's Social Work Leadership Institute (SWLI)
is working to ensure that there are enough social workers to meet the
growing demand for professionals trained in the needs and services
available to older adults. To address this need, SWLI has developed a
program with the John A. Hartford Foundation that is being offered at
two-thirds of the country's Masters of Social Work programs. For more
information, visit
http://www.socialworkleadership.org/
About the National Association of Social Workers
The National Association of Social Workers (NASW),
in Washington, D.C., is the largest membership organization of
professional social workers with 150,000 members. It promotes, develops,
and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also
seeks to enhance the well-being of individuals, families, and
communities through its advocacy. Social workers are uniquely qualified
to help people right in their own environment, by looking at all the
different aspects of their life and culture. They work to ensure
personal well-being, prevent crises and to counsel individuals,
families, and communities. For more information, visit
http://www.helpstartshere.org/.
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March 20, 2008 - The first survey of social workers
who provide services to sandwich generation women -- women between the
ages of 35 and 54 who are "sandwiched" by the needs of their children
and their aging parents -- found that this group, which typically
shoulders a family's caregiving burdens, is ill-prepared for the
challenges of caring for older relatives.