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Caregiving doesn’t stop at one generation for us. Black women are often caught in the middle—caring for our kids while looking out for our parents, all while trying to keep our own lives on track. It’s a lot, and sometimes it feels like too much.
When I had a COVID exposure, I turned into a one-woman cleaning crew: sanitizing everything, isolating myself, and managing everyone’s health around the clock. My biggest fear was my mom getting sick for the first time or my kids catching it again. I pushed through my own symptoms to “protect” everyone else. In the end, I crashed, physically and emotionally, for months.
They call us the “sandwich generation,” and it’s real. AARP found that nearly 20% of Black caregivers are managing multiple generations at once. It’s no wonder we feel stretched thin.
Start setting daily priorities. Use a planner or app to sort tasks by urgency. And don’t forget to put yourself on the list—even if it’s just 15 minutes to read, meditate, or listen to your favorite playlist.
Check Out These Resources:
PDF Guide: Supporting Diverse Family Caregivers: A Guide for Patient Advocacy Groups (take a look at pg. 6-7!)
Journal Prompt: “Who in your family depends on you most? How can you redefine ‘helping’ in a way that doesn’t sacrifice your health?”
You are the heartbeat of your family, and your efforts are nothing short of extraordinary. By making space for your own care and setting priorities, you are building a foundation of love and strength. Trust that you’re creating a ripple of resilience and grace for everyone around you.❤️
Honoring you,
Dr. Dom
This is part of Dr. Dom's Caregiver Chronicles series. Read the entire series here!
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