SJM_LifestyleSandwichGenDept_1219FINAL_REG2_Dept 11 / 27 / 19 11 : 44 AM Page 1 sadly passed away in early August after battling melanoma . “ To say it’s overwhelming is an un - derstatement , ” Crowley says . “ I think with two working parents and two young children and limited family close by you always feel like you’re just getting by and managing to meet everybody’s needs , whether it’s my employer , whether it’s my husband , or it’s my kids and you don’t think you can handle any - thing else . ” Knowing You Are Not Alone A 2013 report from the Pew Research Center states that 47 percent of adults in their 40s and 50s find themselves in the sandwich generation . This means they are supporting a parent who is 65 or older while also raising young children or financially supporting a young adult . But , whether handling the care yourself , seeking in - home care or con - sidering a senior living facility , there are many resources available . Starting the decision - making process and researching the best agen - Caught cies to help can be difficult , but every county has a senior service division that can help calm some of those anxieties . Gloucester County is one of the leading agencies when it comes to aging in the services , offering its residents an exten - sive resource program including sup - port groups , help choosing care op - tions , emergency assistance , financial help and much more . Middle “ We’re the lead agency so if you’re over the age of 60 and you need assis - tance in any area of life we’re the place BETWEEN CARING FOR THEIR CHILDREN to call , ” says Leona Mather , executive AND FOR AGING PARENTS , MANY ARE director of senior services . One of the main services that they INCREASINGLY FINDING THEMSELVES AS provide is Meals on Wheels , a program MEMBERS OF THE SANDWICH GENERATION . that helps seniors get a hot meal once a day , often delivered right to their by Sydney Kerelo homes . “ All together we serve 700 meals s advancements in technology and medicine continue to evolve , a day , ” Mather says . so , too , does the average person’s life span . And with these shifting demo - graphics comes the reality that more people will become members of A At Home what is known as the “ sandwich generation ” — adults stuck between the old and For some , independent living is no the young with responsibilities to both . longer an option but there remains a Rachel Hahn , of Voorhees , knows the situation well . The certified personal strong desire to stay in either their own trainer and stay - at - home mother is married with two young daughters , 3 - year - old home or with a family member . In - home Ashley and 1 - year - old Emily . Taking care of two toddlers can be daunting enough , nursing makes this possible . but Hahn also cares for her 72 - year - old mother Susan , who lives with her . Aleph Home Care is located in Cher - Hahn’s mother was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia , which is caused ry Hill with over 100 employed home by degeneration of the temporal and frontal lobes within the brain . health aides and companions dedicated “ She was starting to have some physical issues , so we started to talk about [ her to giving seniors the best quality of life moving in ] right when she got diagnosed , and then after about six months of run - whether it’s for one hour or around the ning back and forth to her it started to take a toll , especially on me , ” says Hahn . clock . Haddon Heights resident Roxanne Crowley is also a mom in the middle . The “ We will go to wherever you are call - local elder care attorney with Rothkoff Law Group spent her summer working full - ing home at the moment , whether it is time , parenting her 5 - year - old twin boys Emeric and Walter and also traveling to your own home , facility , hospital or rehab and from Maryland every week to care for her aging parents . Her mother , Joan , center , ” says Judy Spillane , operations SOUTH JERSEY MAGAZINE volume 16 issue 9 SouthJerseyMagazine.com 22 |