Generation X, otherwise known as the “sandwich generation” appears to be bearing the brunt of the dramatic changes to the family household dynamic caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Adults in this age group found themselves in the difficult situation of taking care of their jobs, children, and, in many cases, older adults.

Data from National Alliance for Caregiving and AARP shows that more than one in six of the American workforce have to care for an elderly family member while balancing a full-time or part-time job. The data also shows those responsible for caregiving are sometimes pressured to gamble with their job performance due to their dual roles. Seventy percent of working caregivers suffer work-related difficulties, while six out of ten have to endure a cut in paid work hours, reduced days for leaves of absence, poor job performance ratings, attendance warnings, and other work-related worries.

While caring for school-aged children at home, many parents received welcomed help from local school districts that provide a sound remote education program to keep children engaged in learning. However, fewer programs are available to provide remote care and engagement for older adults who are quarantined at home, with or without their families.

Before the pandemic, loneliness already affected at least 40% of older adults. This number is much higher now, which can result in poorer health among America’s older adult population. The U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) stated that loneliness and social isolation can be as damaging to health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. To reduce the negative impact from loneliness and isolation, families and communities are encouraged to call or physically visit the older adults that they know. Spending just a few minutes, either in person, on the phone, via a video call, reminiscing about old times, and getting children involved, provides the emotional support that older adults need during these uncertain times.

Older adults also need to remain active and engaged in activities that are meaningful and impactful to their lives. Following the footsteps of distance learning for children, remote telecare technologies and services are burgeoning to provide remote learning and engagement activities specifically designed for older adults. These services provide ease of use and proven-effective programs, empowering older adults to be more physically active, while connecting with family and friends to reduce the loneliness, social isolation, anxiety, and depression that come with being sheltered in one place.

The negative impact on health caused by social isolation is a bigger challenge for older adults than any other age group. Older adults are unlikely to ask for a technology solution or even know that tech-enabled services designed for older adults even exist. The simple fact that technology is involved can hinder acceptance. Any innovation designed for older adults much be introduced in a way that alleviates fear and encourages acceptance, especially as older adults are expected to remain sheltered-in-place for the next 6-12 months.

The pandemic has increased the intensity of the “juggling act” for people working from home in the face of school closures and stay-at-home orders. With the pandemic, the burden that loneliness and social isolation puts on older adults should be taken seriously before it turns into another healthcare crisis. Holistic approaches that address the “whole person” are being incorporated by many local school districts to benefit our school-age children. The same approach, utilizing innovation-enabled services designed for older adults, can lessen the burden of caring for an older family member, found in family dynamics of many households across the country.

Avi Price is COO of Uniper Care

Coronavirus