From ABC News – http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/ElderCare/story?id=4487229
“Millions of Americans care for both children and elderly parents, and as the baby boomers age, that number will grow. A new survey shows that this balancing act is taking a bigger toll on women and their families than they might realize.
A study of social workers who work with the “sandwich generation” found that the vast majority of them are ill-prepared for the time, expense and emotional toll of caring for aging parents. What’s more, many of the caregivers don’t know how to get help… By 2020, one in five Americans will be older than 65, so this is a problem that’s not going away. The message the National Association of Social Workers is trying to get out is that there is help available.”
It’s a sad fact that our parents take care of us for maybe 20 years, and then when they get old/disabled we can barely return the favor. The circle of life I guess.