The term club sandwich generation refers to a generation that is helping to care for three other generations. The term is a spin-off of the term sandwich generation, meaning a generation caught between the demands of caring for children and for aging parents. Typically members of the club sandwich generation are caring for elderly parents, providing some support for adult children and helping to care for grandchildren. Due to the phenomena of couples having children later in life and some individuals starting second families after death or divorce, some members of the club sandwich generation may still have young children in the home.
Grandparents who are raising grandchildren (GRGs; also known as Grandparents as Parents, or GAPs) are often some of the most stressed members of the club sandwich generation. Often GRGs/GAPS have been put in the position of bringing up their grandchildren because the children's parents have problems with drugs, the law, their health or finances, which means that the GRGs/GAPs probably are involved in taking care of the parents as well as the children. If the GRGs/GAPs must care for their own aging parents, that adds the fourth layer of concern.
Carol Abaya, who writes and lectures on the subject of the sandwich generation, may have originated the usage of the term club sandwich generation. Abaya also uses the term to refer to those in their 30s and 40s who deal with young children, aging parents and grandparents. Another term which has been used for this phenomenon is the nutcracker generation, referring to the intense pressure that those in this situation endure.
