Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newsletter

Brought to you by ieadvocates (invisible employee advocates)

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They’re the determined multitaskers behind so many families – managing careers while raising children or financially supporting grown children, and caring for aging parents, grandparents, or other senior loved ones. They are the Sandwich Generation (Sandwichers), and their responsibilities and numbers are on the rise. Currently, in this country, there are about 11 million people (and counting) who compose this group. Almost 70% of them hold down jobs as well. If you are a member of the Sandwich Generation, or know someone who is, this newsletter offers insights, helpful tips, and encouragement to remind you that many others are walking this journey. No one has to walk it alone.

Living life “in the middle,” sandwiched between their children and elderly loved ones, Sandwichers often deal with daily challenges and competing priorities at home and work. It requires great emotional strength and many sacrifices, often with little personal time to take a breath. The good news for employers, however, is that the skills developed or strengthened by sandwich caregiving can show up in the workplace as: employees who are more focused and organized; managers who are fair and balanced in resolving personal vs work conflicts; and leaders who lead with empathy and understanding.

Whether you are an employee on this journey or an employer wanting to understand the pressures Sandwichers face, we hope you enjoy and learn from the insights we share in this newsletter edition. Here’s to the power of life in the middle!

Table of Contents

• Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees Newslet …

  • In the news:

  • People and Companies In the spotlight:

  • Stories From Real Working Caregivers:

  • Recommended media content:

  • With gratitude, we share a book review:

    • Order Our Book Here

In the news:

The writer reviews the recent study - The 2025 Career Optimism Special Report™ Series: Moms in the Sandwich Generation which they conducted with University of Phoenix Career Institute®  Read the article here.  

Cathy Cassata reports what current sandwich carers said when Health asked what others can do to make their life a little bit easier. The themes were:

• Be Flexible and Understanding

• Offer to Help

• ….and Follow Through

• Share Practical Advice

• Lend a Listening Ear

 Read the article here.

Did you know? (Read our blog):

Sandwich Generation Caregivers: Struggling Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Blog 6/3/25)

If you’re wondering where the term “Sandwich Generation,” came from, it’s been around since the early 1980’s. Coined by two women, (Dorothy Miller and Elaine Brody who first introduced the term in the areas of social work and gerontology) it initially referred to adults (primarily women in their 30s) caring for their own children and their aging parents simultaneously. Over the years, the term has broadened as the faces of family caregivers have changed to include both men and women, primarily ranging from 35 to 55 years old. Similarly, the population of people being cared for has expanded to include not only elderly parents and young children, but older children, grandchildren, and grandparents as well. However, the concept remains that the caregiver is “sandwiched” between caring for at least two of these generations at one time.

Read blog here

People and Companies In the spotlight:

Episode 19: The Caregiver Identity Crisis: Why Naming It Matters with Dr. Barry J. Jacobs

In this episode, we’re joined by the incredible Dr. Barry J. Jacobs, clinical psychologist, author, and former journalist, to explore the essential but often overlooked world of working caregivers. From his early experience caring for a parent to supporting his own mother and stepfather through dementia, Barry brings both deep personal insight and professional expertise to the conversation. Together, we discuss what it means to be a caregiver, the emotional and logistical challenges involved, and how workplaces can better support their caregiving employees. We also dive into Barry’s newest resource, The AARP Caregiver Answer Book, co-authored with his wife Dr. Julia Mayer. With over 150 questions answered in a straightforward, digestible format, this book is a game changer for anyone navigating the caregiving journey. Whether you're an employer looking to build a more supportive culture or a caregiver searching for guidance, this episode is packed with empathy, wisdom, and practical advice.

Barry J. Jacobs, PsyD, is a clinical psychologist, family therapist, and a Principal for Health Management Associates, a national health care consulting firm. A former magazine journalist, he is the author of The Emotional Survival Guide for Caregivers: Looking After Yourself and Your Family While Helping an Aging Parent (Guilford, 2006) and coauthor with his wife, Julia L. Mayer, PsyD, of AARP Meditations for Caregivers: Practical, Emotional, and Spiritual Support for You and Your Family (Hachette, 2016), AARP Love and Meaning After 50: The 10 Challenges to Great Relationships—and How to Overcome Them (Hachette, 2020), and The AARP Caregiver Answer Book (Guilford, 2025). He has also written a self-help column for caregivers for AARP.org since 2013.

Stories From Real Working Caregivers:

Meet Christy Byrne Yates, a real working caregiver:

Christy Byrne Yates, M.S., LEP is a Licensed Educational Psychologist, author, speaker, and coach. In Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving in the Sandwich Generation, she shares her journey as a working mom caring for parents with dementia. A retired school psychologist, she now delivers keynotes, workshops, and coaching to support caregiving families. Christy co-hosts Untangling Alzheimer’s & Dementia, a podcast by AlzAuthors.com, is a member of the Board of AlzAuthors and is a member of the Whole Care Network Mastermind, a trusted voice in the caregiving space. Christy has been featured in Women’s World Magazine (Jan 2025) and has been interviewed on over 25 podcasts. She’s also a contributing writer on Sandwich Generation caregiving topics.

Read the entire interview here

Recommended media content:

PODCASTS

On the short list as a nominee for the 2025 International Women’s Podcast Awards, Charlotte has a podcast that is short (less than 15 minutes), potent (tells it like it is) and extremely helpful wherever you are on your caregiver journey (she will conduct a breathing exercise on occasion!). In Episode 47, Charlotte explores the quiet, unseen moment you stepped into caregiving. Not when the doctor said, "It's cancer," but in the silent shift that happened inside you. Through vivid storytelling and deep emotional resonance, she names what so many caregivers feel but can’t always articulate — the grief, the overwhelm, the invisible weight. This episode is your mirror, your breath, your permission to matter. Tune in and reclaim your role, not just as caregiver, but as a human who deserves care too. Download your free Scanxiety ToolKit at https://www.cancercaregiverpodcast.com/tools 

VIDEOS

The Crisis Behind the Crisis: Reframing Caregiving as a Mental Health Imperative (May 28th, 2025). In this eye-opening conversation at the culmination of Mental Health Awareness Month (May), caregiving experts Amy Goyer and Zack Demopoulos join Cleo CEO Madhavi Vemireddy to reveal why caregiving is often the root cause behind employee stress, disengagement, and burnout. As burnout rates rise and mental health remains a top concern in the workplace, one of the biggest contributing factors is still going unaddressed: family caregiving. Whether it’s eldercare, parenting, long-term support for a partner, or managing complex family dynamics, caregiving responsibilities are quietly overwhelming a huge portion of the workforce—and most employers (and employees!) don’t even realize it. You’ll hear stories, actionable strategies, and fresh ideas for how employers can recognize and support this “invisible load” before it leads to crisis. Mental health and caregiving aren’t separate issues—they’re deeply connected. If you want to move the needle on workforce well-being, it’s time to start where the struggle often begins.

 BOOKS

Nearly 50% of Americans find themselves raising children while also managing the care of an aging parent. This is the “squeeze” of the Sandwich Generation. Challenges increased substantially for Sandwich Generation parents during the COVID19 Pandemic and revealed the need for advance planning to prepare not only for financial strains but emotional and professional strains as well. Every family is different, but there are some common hurdles to consider sooner rather than later. “Building a Legacy of Love: Thriving Inside the Sandwich Generation” by Christy Byrne Yates shines a light on many of those hurdles, while offering strategies for moving from struggling to overcome them, to growing as a family in surmounting them; moving from surviving to thriving and building a legacy of love.

With gratitude, we share a book review:

We want to thank Philip Golden who took the time to read our book and provide a thoughtful ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐review!

“This is a very insightful read for anyone navigating the world of caregiving. Zack’s passion for the topic is clear and hearing about his experience is invaluable to anyone in the field!”

Order your copy of Working Caregivers-The Invisible Employees book here. If you want to order a quantity of books for your leadership team and employees, contact us directly about discount pricing.

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