Human Services: Grand Parenting Issues - Essay Example

The primary issues facing grandparents whose parents are as follows: (1) residence: are they living in a separate house from those of their grandchildren? Do they own a house of their own? Grandparents with homes of their own would be more confident to do parenting tasks in a familiar and convenient environment. (2) Income: do they have a regular source of income or pension? They might want to order food or give their grandchildren some treats. (3) Interests and endeavors: are they currently engaged in regular extra-curricular activities such as being involved in social or civic organizations? or in some form of sports? still, actively involved in work as a proprietor or owner? They might be busy and could not fully attend to the needs of their grandchildren if their minds are focused on other activities.  (4) What is their educational background? Do they share the same interests with their grandchildren? Are they capable of addressing the inquiries and curiosity of their grandchildren? (5) Health status and condition: are they healthy enough to parent their grandchildren? Are they afflicted with some form of illness? (6) Are they parenting children for their own biological child or the children of their child’s spouse? This concern could actually matter if the grandparents have some conflicts with their sons or daughters-in-law. (7) Are they parenting children with disabilities? Are they therefore competent and qualified to address their grandchildren’s needs? (8) Are they genuinely interested to care to take their grandchildren or they just do not have any choice? (9) Are they being paid or remunerated in some form or the other for taking care of their grandchildren? All these concerns would affect the quality and competence of parenting grandchildren.

Type of Services Grandparents Might Need to Parent in Later Years

            If grandparenting skills are needed on a more permanent basis (due, for example, to parents’ impairment or disabilities), grandparents might require services from other institutions in terms of requesting assistance for financial support for educational expenses, health care, and daily sustenance, as required. This is especially eminent if grandparents have no other relatives to assist in supporting the needs of grandchildren.

            In this regard, the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren website contains relevant information that gives grandparents information and access to benefits and assistance, as well as health and safety resources. The internet is actually replete with crucial information on services that grandparents might require to continue parenting their grandchildren in later years. The most pressing issues would be in terms of educational support, health care (for them and for the grandchildren), medical benefits, options for travel and recreation, and other assistance (housekeeping, cooking), as increasingly required as the developmental stages of their grandchildren progress. Likewise, they, too, might require support for their personal needs that could still be addressed by identified websites, especially in endorsing the children to other people upon their demise.