As more grandparents find themselves in partnership raising their grandchildren, assistance through government agencies, support groups and self-education, may help grandparents make the best of the situation.
As more and more grandparents find themselves in the position of raising their grandchildren, networks providing information, education and even legal assistance on the subject offer invaluable support. Since the prospect of unexpected parenting during retirement years presents some unique challenges, finding and accepting the right support system is perhaps the best approach to success.
The AARP (American Association of Retired Persons), a well known organization quick to assist senior citizens on issues pertinent to their daily lives, addresses the topic of grandparents raising grandchildren on their web site. Some of the timely issues covered on the site include: 1) Finding and/or starting a Grandparent Support Group: Suggestions include contacting local community service agencies that work with older adults, families or children such as a senior citizens center, local health department, church organizations or the grandchild's school counselor. 2) Legal/Monetary/Insurance issues: The site discusses grandparents' rights, duties and options in regards to these topics. Direct contact with mediation groups, legal aid society, family service agencies, the local Social Security Administration Office, and public health offices is encouraged. 3) The AARP Grandparent Information Center: The information center serves grandparents raising grandchildren through website tip sheets, print publications, a "Parenting Grandchildren" Newsletter, and co-sponsorship of events which promote awareness about various grandparenting issues. The site provides a variety of ways to contact the center such as writing: AARP Grandparent Information Center, 601 E Street NW, Washington, DC 20049; or calling 202-434-2296, or e-mailing gic@aarp.org and 4) Links to beneficial grandparenting websites such as Grand Parent Again and The Foundation For Grandparenting.
Grandparents should also be aware of specialized assistance developing throughout individual states. For instance, in Massachusetts new residential opportunities are being designed for intergenerational living, offering both handicapped accessible and childproofed living under the same roof. In Florida, a new toll free listening line (1-800-640-6444) called the Kinship Care Warmline provides grandparents with a listening ear and emotional support in a sometimes difficult situation. The Warmline also offers educational services and referral information. In Illinois, a toll free number (1-800-252-8629) for the Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance Foundation, Inc. offers statewide legal aid and the Illinois Senior Helpline's toll free number (1-800-252-8966) provides information on Grandparenting Support Groups. By contacting a specific state's Department on Aging, interested grandparents should be able to acquire a variety of helpful information and a welcome sense of direction.
Along with agency assistance, grandparents will find a growing number of books and publications which address their new parenting status. One such book, entitled, "To Grandmother's House, We ... Stay", by author Sally Houtman, M.S. offers a blend of compassionate wisdom and common sense to help grandparents deal with the emotional obstacle course which sometimes accompanies their situation. It is a guide book for helping grandparents who are forced, through no fault of their own, to give up the luxury of spoiling their grandchildren and instead begin raising them.
So as more and more seniors find their retirement years interrupted with the business of parenting, one thing is clear ... there is help out there! Never hesitate to call, ask, read, or share - for finding out what is right for the family may make parenting a grandchild more fulfilling than could have ever been imagined.
