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Caregiving can strengthen family bonds and build resilience across generations.

Caregiving others can boost mood, purpose, and emotional well-being.

Children gain empathy and confidence when included in caregiving.

Since the term “sandwich generation” was first introduced in 1981, referring to those who were caring for young children and aging parents at the same time,1 a lot has changed. In fact, you could say that the sandwich has become a double whopper. Life expectancy has increased, so it’s often not only our young children and our parents we care for, but also grandparents and even great-grandparents who may be alive and need care.

Because the cost of higher education and daily life has also increased, our grown children and their children—our grandchildren—and our partners’ parents and relatives may also need our financial help and emotional support. Anxiety about holding onto jobs, therefore, has become more likely, and self-care less likely.

The hidden benefits of caregiving

But here’s the good news: Despite caretaker fatigue, the financial squeeze, and role-strain guilt, most of........

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