News Break: More People Supporting Both Parents and Children

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The sandwich generation is booming. Whether that’s good or bad—well, it depends on how you look at it.

In 2012, about 15 percent of Americans in their 40s and 50s found themselves sandwiched between providing financial support to aging parents and to children (grown or not), according to USA Today, reporting on a Pew survey. “That’s up from 12% in 2005,” the newspaper says.

Supporting multiple people can certainly bring stress and challenges. But not everything about this predicament is bad, Kim Parker, a co-author of the report, told the newspaper.

“The middle-aged adults who are supporting their grown children financially report that they have stronger emotional ties with those children.”

Members of the sandwich generation report feeling closer to their children than to their parents, Parker adds. “Generations relying on each other may create stronger ties.”

Have you found that to be true?

If you could use a little financial help to support your aging parents, click here to read about some charities that might do the trick. Soon, we’ll publish an article about where to find free respite care and other services. For notification when that’s published, just subscribe to this blog in the form below.