The Sandwich Generation

I've been thinking a lot about Elna Rodenhouse's wisdom for the class this past Wednesday. I thought it was really interesting listening to the perspective of someone with so many talents in such a diverse range of fields. One idea that she happened to mention particularly caught my attention. The "sandwich generation," a term I've come across many times in researching Alzheimer's disease, is often pushed out of the picture given the public attention surrounding the treatment of patients suffering from the disease. Jesse F. Ballenger, a historian and former nursing home assistant, defines the term in Self, Senility, and Modern America as "adult children (mostly women) who were caught in the dilemma of having to care for both their own children and their aging parents" (131). This particular group of individuals is currently targeted for dealing with the rising number of Alzheimer's disease cases.

It has become apparent to me that a balancing of the needs of afflicted individuals and the needs of caregivers is critical to the health of both. How might society attempt to ensure care for both parties? I've pondered educational possibilities...