Local couple Doug and Melita Flynn became full-time parents to their daughter’s children aged 9 and 6 years after the tragic death of 31-year old Tanya in a car accident earlier this year, joining the growing number of Australians raising grandchildren. More grandparents are caring for their young grandchildren for longer periods on a regular basis. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, grandparents are included in the regular childcare arrangements for over 20% of children below school age. In 2003, there were 22,500 Australian families in which grandparents
were the principal guardians of their grandchildren (31,100 children aged 0-17 years). Reasons for involving grandparents in care are varied, from unaffordable childcare costs, parents unable or unwilling to take on the job or sudden deaths, illnesses or financial crises that impact on what was otherwise a well functioning family unit. Grandparents left suddenly to raise their grandchildren as the primary caregivers may just as suddenly face their own major personal, social and financial upheaval, often with little or no outside support. They are usually retired or planning retirement and compared with younger parents, often have fewer financial resources and less physical stamina. Their capacity or opportunity to continue in the work force may also be reduced. They may face a range of difficulties, including parenting at an older age, difficulties accessing relevant and timely assistance or legal costs. Many ‘baby boomers’ – once believing they ‘had it made’ in their retirement, are now often faced with the shattering truth that all they have worked for towards being self- funded retirees and therefore less of a burden on the tax payer, was all in vain. In order to care for their grandchildren many are forced to sell assets and continue working well past their planned retirement date. Often they feel alone and helpless, ineligible for government financial support they have “too many assets” or too much “disposable income”. Beyond financial nightmares, grieving parents are also facing the bureaucratic minefield of family law, taxation and family support payments. Peak organizations like Council on the Ageing (COTA) have identified a range of issues for grandparents raising grandchildren, particularly the need for recognition by governments, respite care, access to legal aid and parity with foster carers for payments and support services for their grandchildren. The determination of most grandparents to give their grandchildren healthy, happy and well-rounded lives is a strong driving force, but it cannot work miracles. It is also fair to say that both the Federal and ACT governments are concerned about the difficulties grandparents face raising their grandchildren and healing the family, with minimal or no demand on government services. In 2004 COTA conducted surveys on perceived existing support mechanisms, additional support required, the financial and legal issues faced by grandparents and any concerns about the well being of their grandchildren. You can order copies of the report by calling 02 9286 3860 or by email: [email protected] In four months a total of 499 grandparents raising 548 grandchildren took part in the project, making up 308 grandparent-headed families. The February 2005 report told of these, 63% were couples, with 68% of all grandparents being 55 years of age or over. The eldest was 82 and she was raising three teenagers (13, 15 and 17) on her own. Of the grandchildren, 53% were under 10 years of age, the youngest being just 12 weeks old. Just over half of the grandparents are raising two or more grandchildren, with some having up to six in their care. The impact on grandparents’ personal finances, health and wellbeing can be considerable. Here are quotations from grandparents from the workshops: A 63-year-old grandmother said, “My husband feels cheated of his retirement plans. He can’t get past the anger at the mother.” A 65 year old grandmother said, “I had retired shortly before the children came to me, and now I have virtually no life of my own. I cannot go out at nights or at weekends, and see my friends only rarely. Also, I do not have enough money to follow my own interests anyway.” From the investigation into the needs of grandparents caring for grandchildren, a number of recommendations were made to the former
