Grandfamilies is a term used to describe families that comprise of grandparents raising grandchildren. Parents of the children being raised by grandparents, close family friends, great-grandparents or other relatives may not be in a position to take care of their children. Some of the reasons that may make a parent unable or unwilling to take care of the child include instability, death, illness and substance abuse.

The responsibility of raising your grandchildren can be overwhelming. In your old age, you need all the support you can get to help in raising the children. National legal resource centers and community-based support groups can offer you all the information you need about grandfamilies. You can find helpful information on laws and policies, support services, benefits and resources.

To get started as a caregiver to the kids you may need several documents such as birth certificate, citizenship papers, dental and medical records, proof of your grandchild’s assets and income as well as yours among other documents. At your age, taking on the responsibility of grandchildren children could be quite challenging if you do not have the right support.

Persons you may want to talk to when raising the grandchildren include child welfare professionals, teachers, lawyers, pediatricians and other persons in your grandchildren’s lives.

How to find a good support system

You can find other grandparents in your local area who are raising their grandchildren as well. Grandparent support groups can be found on the internet too. Places to look for support services include schools, mentoring programs, universities, colleges, religious organizations and boys and girls clubs.

Help can also come from other family members. Ask for help from friends as well. There may be some members of your family who may want to help if you only ask. Considerations you should make when raising your grandkids are child care, education, legal issues, health, work, finances and housing and safety.

Challenges

Some challenges you may face as a senior caregiver to your grandchildren include access to services and information, financial issues, housing, current political and social factors, legal relationship and special needs if any.

Birth parents may also bring their set of challenges which can make it difficult to raise the grandchildren while dealing with the parent’s and family challenges. It can be difficult dealing with parents who are addicted to drugs and alcohol or are unreliable and erratic to their children.