Changes in Health Perceptions among Older Grandparents Raising Adolescent Grandchildren

This research study explores health perceptions before and after becoming a primary caregiver among older grandparents raising adolescent grandchildren. Qualitative, in-depth face-to-face interviews were conducted with grandparents age 40 and older (N = 15) who were raising adolescent grandchildren age 12 and older. Most grandparents were female, had some college education, White/Non-Hispanic, were married, had an average age of 65 years, and reported never attending a grandparent support group. Before assuming the primary caregiver role, older grandparents described their physical health as good, filled with physical activity, and reasonably free of health conditions. After entering the primary caregiving role, older grandparents of adolescents described functional restrictions and visible changes in physical health requiring intensive medical interventions. In terms of mental health, older grandparent caregivers experienced anxiety, worry, depression, sadness, and frustration. These findings highlight the complex caregiving circumstances encountered by older grandparents raising adolescents and the need for health education and policy development to increase comprehensive supportive services targeting this population.