Back-To-School Gets All the Preparation—But What About Our Aging Parents?

Every August, I feel that familiar shift in the air.

The school supply aisles fill up with folders and pencils. My calendar starts buzzing with sports physicals and teacher meetings. I’m buying new shoes, cleaning out closets, and thinking of lunch ideas that won’t get traded.

Whether you have a kindergartener or a college kid heading back to campus, back-to-school season has this unmistakable rhythm. There’s structure. There are deadlines. There’s this clear sense of: “It’s time to get organized.”

But here’s what I realized as someone juggling both kids and aging parents: there’s no cue or season that naturally rolls around that says… “Time to prepare get our aging parents’ medical info and wishes organized.”

Let be honest—you wouldn’t send your child off to school without making sure their emergency contact form was filled out, their physical was up to date, and you knew exactly who to call if something went wrong.

But when it comes to our elderly loved ones? There’s no social anchor sending us the message “Now is the time.” There’s no checklist that arrives in the mail when they turn 65.  No automated email saying, “Time for your annual parent-prep check-in!”

School has built-in systems, deadlines, and reminders everywhere. Aging? We’re completely on our own to figure out when and how to start preparing.

The numbers tell the story: 2.5 million Americans are currently caring for both children and aging parents—that’s nearly 25% of all adult caregivers. Yet caregivers rarely receive adequate preparation for their role.

Right now, you’re surrounded by back-to-school reminders everywhere:

• Stores are stocked with organizational supplies
• Your brain is already in “preparation mode”
• You’re naturally thinking about health forms, emergency contacts, and getting organized

So, here’s my gentle idea: What if we borrowed this momentum and applied it to our aging parents too?

Not because you’re supposed to know how to do this (you’re not). Not because it should feel natural (it doesn’t). But because right now, while our minds are already focused on preparation and organization, we have a unique window to tackle a couple of small things for our aging parents that would make an incredible difference.

The Reality Check We Need

Here’s what research shows about people like us—the sandwich generation:

• We’re stretched financially: 36% of us report financial difficulty compared to just 17% of caregivers who only care for parents.

• We’re emotionally drained: 44% experience substantial emotional difficulty versus 32% of other caregivers.

• We’re pressed for time: 31% of us always feel rushed to get things done.

• We’re sacrificing our financial stability: More than half of us have made sacrifices to our own financial security to provide care.

It’s well overdue and we can all agree: the overwhelming feeling isn’t your fault—it’s a system failure. 

You weren’t given the tools, reminders, or social cues that make preparation for our aging loved ones feel natural and manageable. You’re doing your absolute best in a situation where society offers no roadmap.

Here’s Where I Started (And You Can Too)

The Quick Wins (30 minutes or less):

• Updated my phone contacts: Added “Dad – Emergency” and “Mom – Emergency” as separate entries with all their key info. I also gave each parent their own emoji and matched it across all their contacts like:

• Providers, specialists, pharmacy, trusted neighbor or friend, insurance provider contact (that 1-800 number you scramble to find in the ER)
• For my mom I use a red heart, for my dad I use a yellow heart.

• Asked one simple question: “If something happened and I had to speak up on your behalf, what would I need to know?”
That one question opened the door to conversations that were overdue. It was a gentle way to start the conversation without sounding like you’re prying.

Other 30-Minute Wins That Make a Big Difference:

• Take photos of insurance cards and ID and save them in a locked note or password manager
• Take pictures of medication bottles so you have their meds in a pinch: add to their locked note.
• Write down allergies, meds, and legal contacts on one sheet and tape it inside a cabinet or folder.

The Slightly Bigger Tasks (1-2 hours):

• Created a simple health info sheet: One page with their doctors, medications, and medical conditions • Located important documents: Found out where they keep insurance cards, wills, and power of attorney papers • Set up a family group text: Now we can all stay connected during appointments or emergencies

Start feeling somewhat prepared instead of constantly worried about being caught off-guard. Carrying all this information in your head creates a lot of mental stress and clutter, more than you realize.

It isn’t about being perfect or having all the answers. It’s about creating a foundation that supports you and your loved ones.  And gives you more mental space and relief in the process.

Here’s what I want you to know: we have normalized school prep because it’s part of what we all do, but there’s rarely a checklist you can follow to prepare for aging parents.  They exist, but you figure out where to find them. They are often long and overwhelming, full of uncomfortable tasks we have no idea how to tackle.

School preparation feels manageable because:

• We all went through it ourselves
• Every parent around us is doing the same thing
• Stores, schools, and doctors all support the process
• The expectations and timeline are clear

Parent preparation feels overwhelming because:

• No one taught us how or when to start
• Every family’s situation is different
• There are no built-in reminders or systems
• There are more family dynamics at play and most of us are unsure how to navigate these without conflict.

About 23% of U.S. adults are part of the sandwich generation, and every single one of us is figuring this out without a roadmap. The goal isn’t to check every box or become an expert overnight.

The goal is simply to feel a little more prepared than you did yesterday. You just need a place to start.

Why This Timing Actually Works in Your Favor

Right now, your environment is actively supporting the mindset of preparation and organization.

For a few weeks every August, preparation feels normal instead of overwhelming.

• Your brain is already focused on organization and planning
• Stores are full of supplies that make getting organized feel achievable
• Everyone around you is in the same “prep mode” mindset
• Society is essentially giving you permission to spend time on family preparation

This is the closest thing we get to social support for family organization all year.  But right now, during back-to-school season, we can borrow the preparation energy and extend it to our parents too.

Your Simple Getting-Started Action Plan

Here’s exactly what you can do this week:

Choose ONE thing from this list:

1. Update your emergency contacts with your parents’ key information
2. Take photos of their current medications (including dosages)
3. Ask where they keep important papers like insurance cards and legal documents
4. Find out their primary care doctor’s name and phone number
5. Create a simple list of their medical conditions, allergies, and recent surgeries

That’s it. Just one thing.

Next week, if you’re feeling good about it, pick another one.

The secret isn’t having all the answers—it’s creating the support system that supports you and the people you love most.

A Tool That Actually Helps

I know you’re busy, so I created something simple to help. It’s a Medical Info Organizer that takes the guesswork out of what information you need to gather — just the essential stuff that matters in real situations. You can print it out, save it digitally, or use it as inspiration to start your own system.

Because when an emergency happens, you won’t have time to search or figure things out from scratch.

👉 Download the Free Medical Info Organizer:

https://caregiverscoffee.myflodesk.com/opr49idrl3

You’re Already Doing Something No One Prepared You For

You’re caring for children while supporting aging parents, often while working full or part-time. You’re holding together multiple generations of your family without any of the built-in support systems that exist for our kids.

Every small step you take toward preparation isn’t just practical—it’s creating the support system that starts to give you some mental relief and space.

The Support You Deserve

Recent coverage in major publications shows this issue is finally getting the attention it deserves:

• NPR recently highlighted how caregiving responsibilities can reshape young adults’ entire life trajectories, emphasizing the need for better support systems

• Harvard Health published research showing that caregivers of critically ill family members may remain at risk for clinical depression for months or years after a crisis

• The Wall Street Journal featured stories about how the growing burden on the sandwich generation weakens careers and quality of life, with ramifications for society at large

The message is clear: The challenges you’re facing are real, significant, and shared by millions of families—all of whom are navigating this without adequate societal support.

Moving Forward Together

As I write this, I’m looking at my school supply list for this year. Right below “colored pencils” and “glue sticks,” I’ve added “update Mom’s medication list” and “check Dad’s emergency contacts.”

Because caring for both generations is part of my reality now—and maybe yours too.

You don’t have to wait for a crisis to start preparing (because no one will remind you to start). You don’t have to figure it all out alone. And you definitely don’t have to do this perfectly.  

Let’s use the energy of the back-to-school season, while you’re already in that mindset of preparation and organization to gently extend that same energy to your aging parents.

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What’s one small step you’re taking this week to feel more prepared—for your parents and yourself?
Let me know—I’d love to hear how you’re navigating this beautiful, complicated season we’re in together.

Here Are a Few More Resources to Support You

Remember: Seeking information and support isn’t a sign that you’re struggling—it’s a sign that you’re being proactive.

Recent Research & Articles:

• University of Michigan Study (2024): “Sandwich Generation Study Shows Challenges of Caring for Both Kids and Aging Parents” – Comprehensive analysis of 2.5 million sandwich generation caregivers

• NPR Health Coverage (December 2024): “Young Adult Caregivers Face Unique Challenges and Lack Targeted Support” – In-depth look at how caregiving shapes life trajectories

• Harvard Health Publishing (2024): “Caregiving Crisis” – Research on the physical and mental health impacts of caregiving

• Mental Health America: “Caregiving and the Sandwich Generation” – Mental health support specifically for sandwich generation caregivers

Ongoing Support Organizations:

• National Alliance for Caregiving: Research, resources, and advocacy for family caregivers

• AARP Caregiving Resources: Tools, support groups, and practical guidance

• Caregiver Action Network: Community support and policy advocacy for family caregivers

Key Studies Referenced:

• Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (2023): National profile study showing 24.3% of adult child caregivers also care for minor children

• Pew Research Center: Data on sandwich generation demographics and financial impacts

• The Washington Post (2023): “The Sandwich Generation is Changing” – Analysis of evolving caregiving patterns