Almost all parents hope that their children will take care of them if they get sick in the future. However, a recent study by Braun Thermometers says that millennial children are the least likely age group to take care of their sick relatives.
The report from NY Daily News says that 47 percent of millennial children, or those born between 1980 and the early 2000s, admitted they would rather not care for sick relatives, which is the highest among other age groups.
The millennial kids might not like taking care of sick relatives because of debt, economic difficulties, student loans and unemployment, according to Medical Daily. "Because adult child caregivers are often "sandwiched" between the needs of the older parent and the needs of their children, they are at risk for burnout," the Forum for Family and Consumer Issues further explains the negative effects of taking care of sick relatives. "This can have implications for corporate America in terms of loss of work production, wages, and productivity and also has implications for the entire family system."
However, there are also many rewards and benefits of taking care of sick relatives. "Such rewards and benefits of caregiving accrue not only during the time spent caregiving but such increase in value long after the parent's death," says a review posted in Michigan Family Review. "A life course or developmental model suggests latent benefits for caregivers since they avoid guilt and find comfort in rewarding memories. A good resolution of the 'filial crisis' means that adult children attain greater maturity and are better prepared for their own aging."
The review also discussed that taking care of sick parents or relatives is an obligation of family members despite the problems and troubles it might cause. "While caregiving has potential risks, real costs and serious implications, it is simply unavoidable for many families when the call comes. As part of the human experience integral to family relationships, family caregiving is often not an option, but a certainty."
