DOTHAN, Ala. (WDNews) – SARCOA Area Agency on Aging and Alabama Cares Support for Caregivers have created a monthly support group for grandparents raising their grandchildren.
“So many older adults are raising their grandchildren. Caregivers are not only those taking care of the elderly, but elders taking care of children also,” said Deb Hodgett, outreach coordinator and education specialist at SARCOA in Dothan.
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 2.33 million children, or 3.2% of all children living in the U.S., were being raised by their grandmother and 1.3 million were being raised by a grandfather. In total, 2.74 million U.S. children (3.7%) were being raised by a grandparent.
For most of these grandparents, raising their grandchildren is a long-term commitment.
84.7% of grandparents raising their grandchildren have been doing so for at least a year, and 48.8% have been doing so for five years or more.
“The support group is a safe place where these caregivers can come and share stories, offer support, and help with overall general well-being,” said Hodgett.
The support group meets every fourth Thursday of the month at SARCOA located at 1075 Brannon Stand Rd. Dothan, Alabama at 2:30 p.m.
There are many grandparents raising their grandchildren in the Wiregrass area that Hodgett encourages to attend the support group meetings.
“Raising my grandchildren put a 360° turn on my life. No longer having daily freedoms and planning your day around children starts all over again,” said Wiregrass resident, Sharla Fletcher.
“You no longer feel like the grandparent anymore as you have become the ‘parent’ all over again in an instant,” said Fletcher.
According to data compiled by the nonprofit organization, Grand Families, about 59,000 grandparents in Alabama are responsible for raising their grandchildren.
“Grandparents sometimes have to step into a role that’s not easy,” said Judy Crowley, executive director of Coffee County Family Service Center.
“They face challenges like being unable to work due to disability or because they are already drawing Social Security. They don’t have the same kind of income that they might have had when they were younger,” said Crowley.
Grandparents raising grandchildren often have less time to enjoy things they hoped to do in their older years due to parenting responsibilities.
However, many grandparents step up to take care of their grandchildren when no one else can.
“Grandparents have a heart full of love and they’re willing to learn although they are tired,” said Crowley.
If you are a Wiregrass grandparent raising a grandchild, you are encouraged to attend the support group at SARCOA at 2:30 p.m. today and each month.
For more information on the support group, you can call 334-793-6843 or visit www.sarcoa.org.
