Publications from ODSW Social Insights: Letters by DSW (Vol 2) | Page 43

Working with Various Client Groups
attention on the importance of the lasting power of attorney to facilitate
care planning by individuals to ease the burden on the family. These are
important avenues for planning ahead. In time to come, with the expansion
of services to allow older persons to age in place in estates and in their
homes, the self financing of such services will stretch the time that people
can be in the community where they have lived for much longer. But this
too means that as a community, we should be more prepared to allow for
facilities, amenities and services that serve older people and those with
disabilities in our communities. That is, the “not-in-my-backyard” syndrome
has to be killed.

Get used to a “messy” life
Being part of the sandwiched generation means getting used to a “messy’’
life. Financial arrangements can go awry and support structures can fall apart
when something untoward befalls a household. They can happen when the
old falls sick or when the income earner with long term commitments on
the housing and car loses his/ her job. The tendency for a middle-income
household to equate a good lifestyle with enrichment and tuition classes
for the children and a live-in domestic maid adds to the perception of
running on a non-stop treadmill. Every “sandwiched’’ household believes it
is unique partly because care situations can be dynamic and complex. There
is only that much that one can anticipate and plan for. People can whine and
whinge and look for ways to butter up the sandwiched generation or people
can invest their energies into building a community of support that allows
the pooling of ideas together to help this group.
From a psycho-social caregiving perspective, there is another aspect that
is worth thinking about and many carers will share some of these helpful
tips. Top on the list that many will share is to get comfortable with “things
being messy.” The house will not be as clean; the finances will not be as
tidy; and there are things that one has to deal with that the caregiver would
never have thought of having to deal with. At a more personal level, some
would advice that it is good to look at the aging parents’ situation and
figure out how one would want to age and fix what can be done now. Areas
that are worth thinking ahead about include having the lasting power of
attorney done for both finances and care. Proactive delegation for someone
to make decisions on behalf of a person in the event that the person loses
mental capacity is helpful and should be given priority. It facilitates someone
assuming responsibility and alleviates the anxiety and stress for the person
who usually and suddenly may have care responsibility entrusted on him or
her.
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