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Former Student Launches Caregiving Service

By Amy Blakely Laine ’95

Armed with a psychology degree from the College Station campus, advanced degrees in technology commercialization and gerontology from other Texas-based universities, and a licensed nursing home administrator, Amy walks as many others do – as a ‘Granddaughter’ caring for neighbors, friends and family. This is the inspiration for SandwYch and was borne of her own life’s experiences. During her early college years, Laine assisted her parents with caregiving duties for her grandparents while her parents managed their careers and helped Amy and her sister navigate their high school and college years.

Caring for Family Doesn’t Have to Be Unpaid Work

By Clare Ansberry

Interest in providing financial support for family caregivers is growing due to the workforce crisis in the care industry

Family caregivers, long the backbone of the country’s long-term care system, are increasingly tapping public and private resources to get paid for caring for loved ones. During the pandemic, Sheila D. Johnson, 55 years old, of Richmond, Va., couldn’t get skilled nurses to help with her brother, Kevin McCain, who is paralyzed and lives with her. She had to quit her job to take care of him.

Amy Blakely Laine

Founder/CEO

Austin-based Amy Blakely Laine combined her passion for caring with technical know-how to launch SandwYch, a unique service with an online portal to help caregivers navigate the nuances of the aging journey.

Armed with degrees in psychology, gerontology and technology commercialization, and a licensed nursing home administrator, Laine walks as many others do – caring for neighbors, friends, and family.

Laine’s own life’s experiences served as her inspiration for launching SandwYch. During her early college years, Laine assisted her parents with caregiving duties for her grandparents while her parents managed their careers and helped Laine and her sister navigate their high school and college years.

Laine’s parents were original members of what is now known as the “Sandwich Generation,” an unchartered territory of being “sandwiched” in the middle taking care of parents and raising a family while being in the prime of one’s career.

Laine’s vision for SandwYch is to see that no one walks the aging journey alone, and that that through this digital-based service, families are proactively able to learn about the resources and key issues to address the best ways to age in place with grace, dignity and a sense of independence.

About SandwYch

SandwYch is a digital resource specifically targeted to those “sandwiched” between caring for multiple generations of family members. SandwYch’s subscriber-based self-paced and group-based video lessons are designed to equip families with the knowledge necessary to make informed choices and have tough conversations with courage.

SandwYch helps families proactively develop roadmaps to support caregivers trying to do it all. Our community of experts guide our members through every step in the caregiving journey