With the wall of baby boomers set to reach their 80s over the next decade and the growing trend for self-management in aged care, there will only be extra heat on the Sandwich Generation, creating โsecondary patientsโ in an already stretched health system. Research has shown that caregiver stress can have a significant impact on the health outcomes of those looking after their loved ones.
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We must confront an uncomfortable truth: that we continue to rely heavily on the unpaid labour of women, particularly those caught in the Sandwich Generation, often without offering them adequate support or recognition.
Iโve seen firsthand the difference that the right support can make. Iโve worked alongside countless women who try to do it all โ navigate careers, parent their children, and provide care for elderly parents.
The mental, emotional and sometimes physical toll can be enormous, and when the balancing act falters โ as it inevitably will occasionally โ the guilt that follows can be all-consuming.
With an awareness of the resources and guidance available to support them, the weight these women carry becomes more manageable. But we must go beyond individual support. We need a cultural shift that recognises caregiving not as a personal challenge to be handled quietly, but as a vital contribution to society that deserves respect, resources, and policy support.
Employers have an important role to play. We need workplace policies that acknowledge and accommodate the realities of caregiving. Policies like flexible work arrangements, paid parental and carerโs leave, and workplace cultures that support, rather than penalise those juggling responsibilities at home.
Governments, too, must act by investing in affordable, accessible care with strong coordination and care management optionsโwhether thatโs for young children or older Australians. These are not luxuries. Theyโre critical infrastructure for a healthy, functioning society. And they donโt just benefit women, they benefit everyone.
Ultimately, supporting the Sandwich Generation isnโt just about alleviating individual stress. Itโs about building a fairer, more sustainable future โ one where no woman needs to choose between caring for her loved ones and maintaining her career, her wellbeing, or her identity.
Lynda Chalmers is the chief executive of Care Connect.
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