Purpose: Transitions in caregiving, such as becoming a primary caregiver to grandchildren or having adult children and grandchildren move in or out, may affect the well-being of the grandmother. Design and Methods: This report describes caregiving patterns at 3 time points over 24 months in a sample of 485 Ohio grandmothers and examines the…

Purpose: To develop and evaluate a series of web-based fact sheets for grandparents raising grandchildren. The fact sheets focus on child development issues that grandparents may face when raising their grandchildren. Design and Methods: The fact sheets were developed using research on attachment theory, child development, and the needs of…

This study reviews recent literature related to grandparents' involvement and support for grandchildren with disabilities and their grandchildrens' family. The literature reveals that grandparents' initial reactions are similar to parents' reactions of shock, anger, and grief when they learn a grandchild has a disability. Over time, grandparents…

This study explores the relationship between the life satisfaction of older adults and the social support from grandchildren in Hong Kong. Two hundred and fifteen older people (from the ages of 64 to 101, mean age 79.3), whose youngest grandchild was aged 12 or older, were recruited from elderly service agencies to participate in the study.…

The growing social phenomenon of grandparents caring for their grandchildren has implications for educational psychology practice, since children who are wards of their grandparents frequently experience problematic school functioning. In this paper, the literature regarding children cared for by grandparents is reviewed. Issues concerning…

Reviews the problems that grandparents often experience while raising their grandchildren. Discusses how full-time grandparents often rely on support groups for comfort and advice and examines the advantages and limitations of this approach. Makes recommendations for improving how support groups function so they can achieve their purposes.…

Guided by the conceptual frameworks of social support appraisal mechanisms and cultural variant perspectives, the reported experiences of 23 Black grandmothers parenting grandchildren who receive cash assistance under the current welfare program, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), were used to integrate macro- and micro-level…

Conducted two qualitative studies of African-American grandparents and great-grandparents rearing their grandchildren as consequence of parental drug addiction. Data from 60 grandmothers, grandfathers, and great-grandmothers revealed that only 3 percent received consistent, reliable familial support as surrogate parents. Although respondents found…

In the past 10 years the United States has seen a dramatic increase in the number of children who live without their parents in a household headed by a relative. More than 2.5 million grandparents now raise grandchildren without a biological parent present in the home. Grandparents who assume responsibility for their grandchildren are unsung…

There have been growing reports of older women and men caring for their grandchildren and great grandchildren. Many of these grandparents are caring for children with developmental disabilities. To systematically examine the effectiveness of a support group intervention for such grandparents, we recruited 97 grandparents through three agencies in…

Discusses the counseling implications regarding the trend of more grandparents raising their grandchildren. Reviews the major challenges facing these caregivers and their grandchildren and the interventions required to ensure the mental and physical stability of both grandparent and child. Outlines coping strategies, skills, support groups, and…

Interviews with 32 grandparents of children with disabilities found that few knew in advance about the disability. Most provided emotional and financial support; they were concerned about their grandchild's future and the stress experienced by the child's parents. They received support from family more than from support groups or counseling. (SK)

This study explored the appropriateness of kinship care placements by examining the adjustment of 46 children, most of whom were Caucasian, in their grandparents' care. Members of support groups for grandparents who are raising grandchildren were solicited for participation in the study. All participants were the primary caregivers of at least one…

Brookdale Grandparent Caregiver Information Project tracked 124 community interventions/service programs for grandparents raising grandchildren. Found that, among programs, lack of funding and institutional support, and the consequent inability to provide child care, were among key obstacles faced, whereas while sponsorship by health and social…

The present study examined whether the total stress experienced by 241 caregiving grandmothers was linked to levels of care provided, child behavioral difficulty, and perceived availability of emotional and instrumental support. One hundred and twenty eight of these participants adopted their orphaned grandchildren on full-time basis. The rest (n…