ATLANTA -- A growing number of Georgians are finding daily life more challenging than ever before as they struggle to raise their children while providing care for their elderly parents.

Sociologists call these people part of the "Sandwich Generation."

Channel 2 Action News anchors Justin Farmer and Jovita Moore interviewed experts who revealed important services, solutions and resources available for the elderly and their families.

"Being in a sandwich position is an adult between 30 and 60 years old that has older parents that require some kind of help, caregiving or attention," said Georgia State University professor Jan Ligon in an interview with Channel 2 news anchor Justin Farmer. "They have children who may or may not be living at home but also are requiring demands of their time," said Ligon.

Farmer asked Ligon how many of Americans are affected.

"It's a lot of people ... because folks are living longer," said Ligon.

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RESOURCES: Caregiver Resources | Sandwich Generation | ARC

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According to the Atlanta Regional Commission, Georgia is in the middle of a huge shift when it comes to older generations.

Mary Lou Vergara from the ARC told Channel 2 Action News anchor Jovita Moore that between 2000 and 2005, the older-adult population in the Atlanta region increased more than 30 percent, while the general population increased 13 percent.

The older-adult population "more than doubled the regular population, so the trend is going to continue," said Vergara.

Often times, it is adult children who have to care for their aging parents while at the same time raising their own kids.

Channel 2 Action News consumer advisor Clark Howard says "family dynamics are different for each household and you've got to figure out how you can be of most help to an aging parent."

Howard said the key is always be nonthreatening, but at the same time be noisy.

"You want to make sure your parent is taking all the meds that he or she should. You want to know where their paper work is in the event that you have to figure out what they have for this, that or the other," said Howard. "If they have a will, if they don't."

Howard said encourage your parent or parents to get a will done, and consider taking them to do so. Also, Howard said having a durable power of attorney for healthcare proposes can improve the level of care someone receives while also making sure they get the care they actually want.