Rich, Ann (2007) The healing power of grandparents who parent. In: 8th International Family Nursing Conference, 4-7 June 2007, Bangkok, Thailand.

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Abstract

This paper explores the changing role of contemporary grandparents with many demonstrating a willingness and ability to take on parental responsibilities for their grandchildren, where they may face challenges and opportunities in difficult times. Three main forms of grand parenting are identified in the literature, those who hâve primary responsibility and are raising their grand children as their main carers perhaps in response to crisis situations, those who live in extended families and participate in care, and those who provide day care while the child's parents work. The rôle of Grandparents encompasses ail three areas in the United Kingdom. This has occurred as a resuit of the increased récognition of children living in abusive families, of the increasing frequency of divorce, single parenting, children and families living in poverty, socio-economic deprivation and the lack of available or subsidised child care in the United Kingdom when parents hâve to work to support the family. Ail of this against the backdrop the Every Child Matters change for children Agenda. When grandparents step into a troubled situation and attempt to offer stability and security for their grandchildren they may hâve to manage the combined responsibilities of family caregivers and parental figures. Grandparenthood is atenuous rôle, lacking clear agreement on behaviour norms. In the current culture of advice and parenting support, while care must be taken not to undermine parenting skills or make judgements about the ability to cope with the demands of childcare, an exploration of the impact on grandparents, and children in the context of families must be undertaken. Due to the complex web of interrelated factors the process and outcomes of care giving by grandparents is not well known in the literature. It is proposed therefore that it is timely to explore the impact of this on the health of children and their families in the current climate of change when there has been dissolution of the nuclear family and grandparents are playing increasingly significant rôles in healing and supporting their families.

Item Type:	Conference or Conference Paper (Speech)
Additional Information:	Highlights of the conference were published in the Journal of Family Nursing 2008 November 14(4):391-3. http://jfn.sagepub.com/content/14/4.toc
Uncontrolled Keywords:	grandparenthood, grandparents, parenting, parental responsibilities
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman R Medicine > RT Nursing
Pre-2014 Departments:	School of Health & Social Care School of Health & Social Care > Family Care & Mental Health Department
Related URLs:	Organisation
Last Modified:	14 Oct 2016 09:07
URI:	http://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/2597

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