Aleviating the Stress

How Can I Help My Family & Myself?

• Join a support group; meeting other grandparent-headed families can provide support and a sense of community.
• Establish a schedule for your family; having a routine is helpful for children from unstable and chaotic homes.
• Take care of your physical and mental health. Get regular physicals, exercise, eat right, and get plenty of rest.
• Take advantage of respite services or work with other grandparent caregivers to take a break from caregiving.
• Have a social network; stay in contact with friends or a faith community.
• Become educated about custodial grandparenting and available resources.
• Do not talk negatively about grandchildren’s parents in front of your grandchildren.
• Allow grandchildren to share their feelings about their family situation.

When Should I Get Help?

Because each family is different, it is difficult to say when a grandparent-headed family should seek help. However, grandparents should seek help if they feel unable to manage their stress, if their stress interferes with their ability to function, or if tension and conflict among family members becomes too difficult to manage. They should also seek help if their grandchildren’s problems become overwhelming.

Source: American Association of Marriage Therapy
 http://www.aamft.org/imis15/content/consumer_updates/Grandparents_Raising_Grandchildren.aspx