The dual challenge of the sandwich generation: Raising children while caring for aging parents
CBSN
Between now and 2030, about 10,000 Americans will turn 65 every single day, highlighting a growing concern about the nation's preparedness for elder care often falling on the shoulders of their adult children. This has given rise to a term known as the "sandwich generation," defined as adults who find themselves caring for their aging parents while still raising their own children.
Lisa Ling is a CBS News contributor and part of the sandwich generation herself. Ling's family is part of nearly 80 million Americans taking care of children and our elderly parents at the same time.
Ling's husband, Paul, typically helps get their two young daughters ready for school. However, on some days, he rushes to assist his 92-year-old mother, Grace, with her medical appointments. She has faced several trips to the emergency room and and rehabilitation stays in recent months. Mornings, Ling said, are often "hectic" in their home as they juggle the responsibilities of taking care of parents and children.
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