Cecily O'Connor
RedwoodAge.com

Baby boomers caring for elderly relatives are finding they can't juggle the responsibilities alone, so they're turning to their kids for help. 

Three in five caregivers said their children aged 8 to 21 help care for loved ones with Alzheimer's disease, according to a survey from the Alzheimer's Foundation of America. These sandwich generation caregivers said their children help to feed and dress their elders and often attend doctor's appointments.

"Taking care of someone with Alzheimer's disease can be an enormous drain on the caregiver and on family resources," said Eric J. Hall, the association's CEO. "For sandwich caregivers, the problem is even more acute. It is clear that caregiving is a multigenerational concern."

About 70 percent of caregivers said they need more help caring for their relative with Alzheimer's disease, compared to 33 percent who said they need more help with their kids. 

It is estimated that the 5.7 million Americans caring for aging relatives and loved ones also have children whom they care for and support. Both men and women fill caregiver roles, but as demographics shift, many boomer women will find themselves with heavier caregiving burdens, according to a separate recent study.

Alzheimer's is a progressive, degenerative disorder that attacks the brain's nerve cells, resulting in loss of memory, thinking and language skills, and behavioral changes. More than 5 million Americans currently have the disease, including one in 10 persons aged 65 and older, and nearly half of those 85 or older. By 2050, this number could more than triple to more than 16 million people in the US, according to the association.

The Alzheimer's Association, another group focused on the disease, estimates one in eight boomers will get Alzheimer's themselves in coming years, raising serious questions about who will take care of them and who will pay for it.

Life-Changing Responsibilities
Recognizing the symptoms of Alzheimer's is not always easy. Family members often think their relatives' confusion might be part of the normal process of aging. That's why the AFA is urging greater education among both adult and non-adult caregivers. It recently enhanced its website with more resources for teens.

"A segment of young adults and teens assist with managing the daily needs of individuals with Alzheimer's disease, and a small percent are even called upon to make informed decisions about treatment," said Dr. Lesley Blake, a clinical associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Washington. "Both adult and non-adult caregivers need to be educated about what to expect and, more importantly, what to do in these cases."

Young adults, teens and pre-teens are being deeply affected by their caregiving responsibilities. About one-third of young adults aged 18 to 21 assist with doctors' appointment, while about 42 percent provide transportation to loved ones with Alzheimer's.

About one-quarter of caregivers who are 13-21 assist with activities of daily living, such as feeding and dressing. Nearly 90 percent of 8- to 12-year-old caregivers visit and entertain a loved one, and approximately 85 percent of the teens pay visits to the person with the disease.

Knowing the Signs
Even with greater family support, the survey showed that some Alzheimer's patients received a delayed diagnosis - typically for two years. Caregivers said the delay was most often due to lack of familiarity with symptoms or insufficient knowledge about Alzheimer's disease, with about half saying that they thought symptoms were normal signs of aging.

Early signs can include forgetfulness, memory loss, misplacing things, and disorientation. Symptoms of moderate Alzheimer's disease are difficulty identifying familiar people, places or things, restlessness, sleep disturbances, poor judgment or difficulty with reasoning, aggression or agitation, inappropriate behavior, increased difficulty with everyday activities, paranoia and hallucinations.

While recognizing the symptoms is just one part of the caregivers' role, their increased awareness can go a long way toward successfully handling a relative's needs. Those who feel they do a good job balancing the care of their loved ones with Alzheimer's disease and children under 21, more than one-third specifically cited support from children as a contributor to their success.