{"id":7906,"date":"2022-04-11T22:29:24","date_gmt":"2022-04-11T22:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/partnersforourchildren.org\/older-kinship-caregivers-face-additional-problems-amidst-pandemic\/"},"modified":"2022-04-11T22:29:24","modified_gmt":"2022-04-11T22:29:24","slug":"older-kinship-caregivers-face-additional-problems-amidst-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/partnersforourchildren.org\/older-kinship-caregivers-face-additional-problems-amidst-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Older kinship caregivers face additional problems amidst pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the United States 2.7 million children currently live with non-parent relative caregivers, many of whom are grandparents. \u00a0During the COVID-19 pandemic, grandparents face additional challenges that increase their health risk and limit access to additional needed resources. \u00a0Generations United recently released a report<\/a> that documents challenges some grandparents\u00a0face\u00a0while raising relatives during the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

Health care risks are of great concern among this population. Nearly half of grandparents caring for children are older than sixty, nearly twenty percent live below the federal poverty line, and a quarter of them have a disability. Many more grandparents are Black and Native caregivers, relative to White caregivers. All these factors put them at increased risk for COVID-19. In addition, exposure to COVID is more likely when caregiving responsibilities include taking young children to school and\/or in-person visiting with parent(s). Caregivers often do not have enough time to attend to their own health-care needs.<\/p>\n

Caregivers are at risk for losing access to their supportive services during the pandemic. Many organizations have had to operate remotely. Not every kinship family has access to a computer or the internet, leaving them without vital resources and support, especially as many schools have turned to on-line learning.<\/p>\n

Informal kinship caregivers are less likely to be licensed formally as foster parents; they do not receive foster care or adoption assistance payments, and cannot easily access programs like Medicaid and Food Stamps to account for increase in family size. The increased amount of financial need with potential loss of income due to the pandemic can be disastrous for caregivers trying to maintain housing costs, food, school supplies, and other necessities for their families.<\/p>\n

Generations United encourages action steps to help grandfamilies during COVID-19 and beyond. Recommendations include:<\/p>\n