One of the underreported aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic has been the economic and mental health impacts on the more than 2 million grandparents in the U.S. who are raising their children’s children.
In the best of times, this arrangement can be hard for people who are in their later years and find themselves having to cobble together the strength and resources needed to raise a youngster. Throw in the challenges of remote learning, social isolation and quarantines and the stress can be overwhelming.
While studies have shown children raised by kin often have better outcomes than those raised by nonrelated foster patients, the challenges can be acute for grandparents, many of whom don’t get the financial and social support available to licensed foster parents.
The 2020 State of Grandfamilies in America Annual Report found nearly 40% of those interviewed were struggling with mortgage or rent payments. Nearly a third said they had to rely on food pick-up sites, which often run out of supplies.
There’s also the increased stress caused by strained relationships with their own children, who often have substance use disorders, mental health conditions or other issues that contributed to children going into their grandparents’ care in the first place.
The report notes resources are available, but these guardians often have trouble knowing about them or weaving their way through a maze of bureaucracy.
Health care providers can help by recognizing the signs of increased stress in their senior patients who are in this role, and seeking other ways to ease the burdens on these families trying to survive these turbulent times.