Hands full of the sandwich generation? This can help.

There are lots of positives to adulthood. You make your own money, you make your own rules, and you make your own decisions. But with that freedom comes responsibility too, and some are harder than others. Particularly difficult is the obligation of what’s known as “the sandwich generation,” or people who are caring for aging parents and children simultaneously. When we have kids, we quickly become experts on how to juggle our new normal. But even though we’ve had our parents in our lives for ages, caring for them is typically something very new. The job requirements range from healthcare to financial planning to estate law to home handyman…and that’s not even a full list.

Having worked with many clients who’ve suddenly found themselves in the sandwich generation, there are some resources that can help as long as you know where to look.

First, take some time to explore these government resources:

• Benefits.gov - Visit the official benefits website of the U.S. government, with information on more than 1,000 benefit and assistance programs.
• The Administration on Aging - The Federal advocate agency for older people and their concerns.
• Food and Drug Administration (FDA) - The FDA’s database covers every drug approved by the agency, listing active ingredients, purpose of the medication, dosing recommendations, side effects and conflicts.

These are good to start your education. Once your parents are further along in the aging process, you may also want to take a look at this guide from Transamerica, Caregiver’s Resources, that provides more advanced resources for when elderly folks begin to become less independent.

Being right in the middle of a generational sandwich is no easy task. Let’s connect and together we can develop a plan that makes good sense for you and your family.