Focus:Elder Care
The Spring 2000 Edition
The Sandwich Generation: in-between caregivers
They’re called the Sandwich Generation -- millions of Americans who provide care for aging relatives as well as their own children. For some, it feels like they’re a candle burning at both ends. To help you explore what is happening in your own faith community and how the church can help, MOSAIC visits two sandwich generation families in Nebraska. Then we turn to people who are reaching out with ministries of help: a Missouri social service agency, a Pennsylvania congregation and the director of the ELCA’s Age Span Ministries.

Three Options
With the help of Lutheran Services in America, MOSAIC looks at three options for elder care, including home health and respite care for people in their homes, and long-term care outside the home. We talk with an occupational therapist and a family who adapted their home for respite care. We go to an Illinois ecumenical center that provides daily support services for the elderly and respite for their primary caregivers, and visit a Minnesota continuing-care retirement community that partners with 32 ELCA congregations.

It’s Time To Talk
In this segment MOSAIC explores planning for elder care in an open and frank manner. We visit a health care agency, open the door to discussing legal issues and visit a congregation that includes a Congregational Health Advocate on its staff. After accompanying her on a home visit, we go to a United Church of Christ institution that provides regular public elder care preparation seminars.