We are interested in understanding the central role of grandmothers in a family, how different caregiving changes or stays the same over time, and the effects of these situations over time. We initially identified grandmother participants based on their living arrangements relative to their grandchildren. One group is grandmothers who have primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren, and whose adult children do not live in the home. The second group is grandmothers who live in intergenerational households consisting of both their grandchildren and the children’s parents. The third group is grandmothers who do not live with their grandchildren.
Now, we are in the second phase of this truly unique study. We continue our interest in the grandmother’s health and well-being and are adding the perceptions of their grandchildren about their connections to their grandmother and views about the family. Data will be collected by mailed questionnaire from grandmothers and by telephone from grandchildren at two times, a year apart. In addition, grandchildren who experience a change in their caregiving or living situation related to their grandmother may be invited to participate in an additional telephone interview.
To contact the Grandmother Study, please feel free to e-mail us at grandmotherstudy@gmail.com or give us a toll-free call at 1-866-636-0007. |
