Beyond visions of ham and cheese, the “Sandwich Generation” is a term, growing in usage, referring to the increasing number of people who are caught between the needs of multiple generations; those caring for their own children or grandchildren while simultaneously caring for their aging parents. While research has found that interaction between multiple generations is incredibly beneficial, family caregivers feeling pressed by needs of all those both younger and older, leading to tension and chaos. According to Carol Abaya, a journalist and speaker, two different types of living arrangements may be found within the “Sandwich Generation”: First, the “Traditional Sandwich,” where one is torn between caring for their aging parents and their own children, or second, the “Club Sandwich”, where all three, or even four, generations are found living under the same roof.
