The Sandwich Generation: Caring for Kids, Aging Parents, and Yourself

In this episode of The Hope Table, host Erin Brinker talks with psychiatrist Dr. Ashley Zucker of Kaiser Permanente Southern California about the emotional realities of the sandwich generation—adults caring for both their children and aging parents. They explore the shifting parent–child roles when an elder moves in, common emotions like anxiety, guilt, resentment, and grief, and how cultural expectations can intensify pressure on caregivers.Dr. Zucker shares how these changes affect teens in the home, strain marriages, and trigger old family trauma, as well as what warning signs to watch for in both adults and adolescents. Together, they discuss setting boundaries with parents and kids, recognizing when home care is no longer safe, and why support groups and therapy can be lifesaving. The episode closes with practical, realistic strategies for self-care, modeling healthy coping for children, and giving yourself grace when you can’t “do it all.Send us comments and thoughts.