Arabic version: جيل الساندويتش يواجه عبء رعاية متزايداً

According to ABC News, more than 1.5 million Australians in the “sandwich generation” are balancing paid work, care for ageing parents and support for older children still at home. The report describes a physically and emotionally demanding role as people live longer while care services face growing pressure.

Janelle is caring for her 93-year-old father, Ernie, after he fell and fractured his hip. Ernie and his puppy Bella moved in with Janelle, her partner Nicole and their teenage boys. Janelle combines bathing, toileting, dressing, feeding and entertaining her father with supporting her sons and working full time from home. She uses a closed-circuit camera to check on Ernie when she attends her son’s football matches.

The report says the oldest baby boomers began turning 80 this year, bringing increased demand linked to complex health problems, frailty and dementia. It says Australia needs 10,000 more aged-care beds each year but produced 800 last year. People can wait up to a year for assistance, while 13 people a day die before receiving it.

Gohar Yazdabadi, who heads the Council on the Ageing in NSW, said her experience caring for critically unwell parents reshaped her understanding of the pressures on carers. While managing school and day-care routines, medical appointments and paid work, she experienced stress and isolation. Her father died waiting for care and her mother died two months later. Gohar called for unpaid carers to be formally recognised in childcare, health care and public policy.

ABC News reported that about two-thirds of carers have reduced their work hours because of unpaid care. Australian Seniors says nine out of 10 carers have experienced burnout, with nearly half reporting emotional and physical exhaustion, sleep problems and financial stress. Sarah Macdonald, who has cared for her parents over 15 years and has two adult children at home, said carers’ wellbeing can fall behind the competing demands they manage.