SEATTLE — Grandparents and older relatives are often stepping in as primary caregivers when biological parents are unable to provide care for their children. In fact, about 40,000 grandparents are taking care of 50,000 children in Washington.
“What’s happening now is caregivers are older and older and finding themselves taking care of children at older ages,” said AARP State Director Marguerite Ro.
It can be difficult for these older caregivers to get needed financial resources for the children they’re raising.
“Kinship caregivers, oftentimes, are in their retirement phase, so they are on a fixed income,” said Teresa Everett, public relations and resource development director at Atlantic Street Center. “So, to have additional members of their family join them and become a part of their household puts a financial strain on them, big time.”
Because caregiving can be a difficult journey, and kinship caregiving is not often a planned event, it can create emotional stress as well.
“Knowing where to go for support is really, really important,” Ro said.
The Atlantic Street Center provides programs aimed to increase caregivers’ knowledge of technology, access to health education and respite care.
“We also advocate for them and teach them how to be advocates for themselves,” Everett said.
The center also focuses on celebrating caregivers. This includes an event with a live band and dinner to make caregivers feel special and supported. The team at Atlantic Street Center can also help connect families with external resources to ensure they have everything they need to take care of themselves and their families.
“It’s very important that their needs are met so they can be the head of the household and function in a thriving way,” Everett said.
With 820,000 unpaid family caregivers in Washington, AARP aims to make sure they feel supported.
“This is something that more and more people are facing,” Ro said. “That’s why we want to make sure that people know where to go to get resources and support and be connected.”
Visit the AARP website to find resources about kinship care, including links to the Atlantic Street Center.
Sponsored by AARP
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