Grandparents as Care Takers

In the present era of busy lifestyle, people hardly have time to plan a family. On the other hand those who plan, find a lot of difficulty in raising their kids. This is a very big challenge that is ahead of today’s generation. In such family structures, we often see grand- parents looking after their grandchildren.

Many kids are solely raised by their grandparents only. Such kids are more close to their grandparents than their own parents. As per a new research which has been conducted on the grandparents acting as care givers, it has been revealed that grandparents are overcoming a lot of unique challenges in this regard. The research was presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2018 National Conference & Exhibition. This study is first of its kind to examine a nationally representative sample of children and directly compare households where children are being raised by their grandparents with those being raised by their parents. Although it is not at all easy for the grandparents to play the role of full time care takers, yet they are beautifully fulfilling their responsibilities. They face challenges with their poor health, old age, and other socio economic hurdles. The researchers analyzed and compared 2016 National Survey of Children's Health data from 44,807 parent-led households and 1,250 grandparent households. It was revealed that the caregivers raising their grandchildren were more likely to have a greater number of physical and mental health problems, have household incomes at or below the federal poverty line, have lower levels of education, and be single. Also the children who grow up in such environment tend to be more anxious, high tempered, stubborn etc. This is purely because children who spend their childhood in non - parental care often tend to exhibit a lot of adverse behaviours. When several questions were asked from the parents and grandparents regarding parenting, they both came up with similar answers. Another study also observed that a substantial portion of both parent caregivers and grandparent care givers, reported that most of the times they did not have someone who they could turn to for day to day emotional support with parenting. The counsellors and the pediatricians and other health professionals caring for 'grandfamilies' have to be careful that when grandparents in such families undergo stress and depression or may be feel alone, there is need for special care and concern that they require. Sometimes physically grandparents as caregivers may be extremely fit but mentally they are not. Therefore, both the physical and mental health of the grandparents as caregivers must be taken care of.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181102083452.htm