You've heard of the sandwich generation—carers in their 40s to 60s looking after ageing parents while raising children. But in the current political climate, many say it's become a triple-decker sandwich, with economic and political crises adding a new layer of pressure. The number of family caregivers in the US has jumped to 63 million, a 45% increase over the past decade, and among those under 50, 47% care for both a parent and a child.
One carer described spending hours at a cancer centre with her mother while fielding calls from her daughter about a school volleyball game. She noted that time in hospitals stretches and loses meaning, and that the political backdrop—including proposed cuts to Medicaid and Medicare—adds to the strain. 'No one teaches us how to live or how to die,' her mother said, quoting author Lore Segal.
Julie Gayer Kris, a social worker specialising in elder care, is herself caught between her 81-year-old mother, a stepfather with Alzheimer's, and her 14-year-old son. She leads therapy groups for family carers and says the current political climate 'creates another layer of hopelessness and stress.' She describes the experience as 'a multi-layered sandwich of shit.'
Many carers share a look of being frayed and furrowed, moving from one appointment to the next. The majority are women. The anti-care ethos of the political culture, with compassion often looked down upon, can make caring for others feel thankless. Yet millions continue to juggle these responsibilities, often with little support.
