By Nicole Long, CEO of Old Colony Elder Services
National Grandparents Day is a special holiday to honor grandparents and is celebrated on the first Sunday after Labor Day, which falls on September 10th this year.
Grandparents play an important role in grandchildren’s lives and their bond is special.
Love, knowledge, strength, and comfort come to mind when we think of grandparents. Grandparents can offer a wealth of experience, as well as an attentive ear and guidance. Many grandparents are involved in their grandchildren’s lives in a myriad of—cheering them on at their soccer games or music recitals; teaching them new skills such as baking cookies or throwing a football; sharing family traditions; creating special holiday memories and more.
The number of grandparents raising grandchildren is on the rise. When parents are unable to raise their children, grandparents are often the ones stepping up. In Massachusetts, there are 27,035 grandparents responsible for their grandchildren, and more than half of these grandparents are 60 years and older, according to GrandFacts: State Fact Sheets for Grandfamilies (Grandfamilies.org).
Raising grandchildren can have many rewards, including giving grandchildren a sense of security and keeping the family together. Yet, it can also bring many challenges. No matter how much grandparents love their grandkids, taking them into their home requires many adjustments, such as unexpected costs and financial challenges and adjusting to new habits.
Resources for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Did you know? Old Colony Elder Services (OCES) has a Family Caregiver Support Program (FCSP), which reassures families that they are not alone and that resources are available to assist them in their caregiving. The FCSP works with people of all ages, including grandparents raising grandchildren.
OCES’ FCSP empowers grandparents by providing resources and support, through OCES programs as well as other resources in the community, to help with caregiving. OCES’S FCSP can provide one-on-one support to grandparents by creating a personalized care plan, which outlines available resources appropriate to their caregiving situation. Resources may range from caregiver support groups and educational workshops to programs that share techniques to help family caregivers with stress reduction, time management, goal setting, problem-solving and relaxation. Additional resources for grandparents may include help with summer camps and technology, as well as respite.
To learn more about how OCES’ FCSP helps grandparents raising grandchildren and other caregivers navigate one of life’s challenging, but most rewarding jobs, visit www.ocesma.org/getting-started/caregiver-support/ or call 508-584-1561.
Grandparents Family Cookout
In celebration of National Grandparents Day, OCES and Old Colony YMCA Middleboro are presenting a Grandparents Family Cookout on September 22, 2023 (rain date September 23) from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at Camp Yomechas at 375 Wareham Street in Middleboro. This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Tickets are required for all attendees including adults and children. To register and request tickets, please visit the following link, https://www.eventbrite.com/e/grandparents-family-cookout-tickets-681757654497.
OCES, a nonprofit agency proudly serving older adults and individuals with disabilities throughout Plymouth County and surrounding towns, offers programs to serve older adults, individuals with disabilities, their families, and caregivers. For more information, visit ocesma.org.
