As the global population ages, the "sandwich generation" faces increasing pressure to care for both elderly parents and dependent children, leading to caregiver burnout. To prevent burnout, experts recommend preparing ahead of time by having honest conversations with family members, setting boundaries, and prioritizing self-care. Additionally, integrating the elderly back into society in meaningful ways can help alleviate the burden on younger generations and governments.
Actress Laura Dern and her mother, Diane Ladd, bonded during a difficult time by engaging in conversations that adult children often avoid having with their parents. Ladd had been diagnosed with scarring on her lungs in 2018 due to being exposed to pesticides sprayed in her neighborhood in Ventura County, California, and was given three to six months to live. Starting in early 2019, the two went on regular walks together and recorded their conversations, which blossomed into them co-authoring a new book, "Honey, Baby, Mine," based on their frank and funny conversations following Ladd's diagnosis. The book is meant to inspire others to have similar conversations with their loved ones.
