Adults sandwiched between children and ailing parents call for cultural rethinking

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Sandwiched between children and ageing parents a growing number of Australians are experiencing the care squeeze. The pressures are pushing some out of the workforce as carers grapple with social, financial and mental health challenges.

Transcript

00:00That just gives a little bit of oomph.

00:10That's what Belinda Hogg strives to give her mum every day.

00:14You think that looks good?

00:15I suppose so.

00:17Four years ago, Chrissy France was diagnosed with dementia.

00:21She was just 68.

00:22It wasn't just the forgetting things, it was the everyday things like she loves cooking,

00:28she'd stopped cooking, she'd dramatically lost weight.

00:31Suddenly, Ms Hogg went from juggling kids and a full-time job to being her mother's carer too.

00:38I felt ripped off, yeah, sorry.

00:45She's part of the sandwich generation, adults under strain while caring for both children

00:51and ailing parents.

00:53As Australia's population ages and people have kids later, experts warn they'll be

00:58growing economic, social and psychological consequences.

01:0360,000 Australians will turn 85 in five or six years' time and that will continue for

01:08quite a while after that.

01:09So it's a really phenomenal shift in our demographics.

01:13It's often unrecognised work, shouldered disproportionately by women.

01:18Evie Collis retired prematurely from teaching to care for her mother and other family members.

01:26That has financial implications.

01:28It also has social implications.

01:31You can't work full-time when you have a more than full-time caring role.

01:37We're losing teachers, nurses, aged care staff.

01:41Very high prevalence of that group of workers having to wind back their work or step out altogether.

01:47Advocates want greater workplace flexibility and stronger support systems.

01:52I think we're burnt out, aren't we?

01:55For many carers, recognition is an important piece of the puzzle.

01:59That looks good.

02:01Well done.

02:02If it was a job, it would be paid really well and it would be really, really well resourced

02:08and we would have some status.

02:12None of that applies to carers.

02:16A call for a cultural rethink in the face of a demographic reckoning.

02:26Great.

02:27Thanks very much.

02:29Let's welcome to our T.

02:31It's jobs.

02:33On June 5th of 2019.

02:36Hopefully we'll be fine.

02:37You can't wait.

02:38Maybe take rest or then.

02:40Any way.

02:41I'll be fine with everything.

02:42Whatever you have a list on his profession

02:42that's made to make the joints?

02:43Hang with expertise.

02:44I got a question.

02:46Any way.

02:46Let's just do that.

02:47You can't wait?

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