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Caring for the Parent Who Cared for You: Supporting the “Sandwich Generation”
There is a particularly busy stage of life for select adults who are sometimes called the “sandwich generation.”
These are adults caring for young children and aging parents. This can look like a high-functioning mom who defaults to competence and carrying the weight of it all, from scheduling memory testing and helping with bills, working full-time and remembering what they signed up to bring to the third-grade class party.
Let’s be honest. No matter how organized, efficient and proactive you are, no one is meant to carry the mental and emotional weight of caring for so many lives alone.
UNT Health’s Center for Older Adults not only provides exceptional care for those 65 and older, but also offers support for the caregiver, who is often facing burnout and unsure where to turn next.
Photo courtesy of UNT Health
The hidden complexity of aging
Aging well isn’t just about treating disease. It’s about coordinating:
- Primary care
- Cardiology and GI issues
- Memory concerns
- Medication management
- Mental health
- Caregiver support
Too often, families are left to connect the dots themselves.
This can lead to repetitive appointments, unnecessary visits and a daughter or son acting as the unofficial care coordinator. The Center for Older Adults was designed differently.
Comprehensive care under one roof
Rather than sending families across multiple systems, the Center for Older Adults brings together:
- Geriatric primary care
- Memory evaluation and care planning
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Health coaching
- Clinical pharmacists
- Caregiver support resources
- Coordination with specialists
If there are concerns about cognitive changes, comprehensive memory assessments provide clarity. Is it normal aging, mild cognitive impairment, or something more? Early diagnosis allows for proactive planning, medical management, and family alignment.
Perhaps most importantly, the Center for Older Adults provides structured family conferences to help everyone get on the same page, so no one person is shouldering the burden alone.
Photo courtesy of UNT Health
Preserving dignity and independence
Aging care doesn’t have to be reactive or crisis driven.
With the right team, families can:
- Optimize medications to reduce side effects and fall risk
- Address heart health before it becomes emergent
- Support brain health proactively
- Plan transitions thoughtfully
- Maintain independence as long as safely possible
The Center for Older Adults focuses on what matters most to the patient to help preserve their quality of life and independence as much as possible. Part of caring for the older adult is caring for the caregiver. The Center for Older Adults recognizes that when one person ages, the entire family system shifts. Caregiver guidance, training, and support groups aren’t “extras” – they’re essential.
Caregiving without support is unsustainable, but you don’t have to navigate this alone.
A team built around you
If you’re a part of the “sandwich generation,” you are probably used to coping with the pressures of this season and being the strong one who holds it all together, but strength also means knowing when to build a team.
If you’re noticing changes — or simply want a proactive plan — specialized older adult care can provide the support and answers you’ve been looking for.
To schedule an appointment with the Center for Older Adults, call 817-735-2400, or visit us online at https://www.unthealth.edu/patient-care/specialties/geriatrics/index.html
