Grandparenting: A Case Study

Decent Essays
Introduction
The family as a primary source of social support is very important in promoting active and healthy aging. Increased life expectancy may create multigenerational kinship networks to provide family continuity and emotional support when needed. These multigenerational families are characterized by cross-generational reciprocity and interdependence – grandparents and grandchildren sharing over three decades of life and bond (Hooyman & Kiyak, p.345).
Grandparenting is an evolving role affected by social changes such as “women in labour force, distance, divorce, remarriage, reconstituted families and international adoption that have seriously altered the classic family structure and the challenges of grandparenting” (NACA, 2005. p1).
…show more content…
It can be expressed in several ways, from raising a child to paying for college to cooking meals to attending school recitals and recreational activities. (psychology.wikia.com). Psychologist Erik Erikson developed the term generativity to describe the task of grandparents and other adults in raising and contributing to the well-being of the next generation of children. When older adults become parents, the step into the role of mentors to the new generation to nature and guide (Brotherson et al, the Art of Grandparenting, …show more content…
Both concepts however promote active and healthy aging. Older adults with better social network experience better emotional, mental and physical health; those who guide and nuture the younger generation derive satisfaction and motivation which also enhances the aging process. Both concepts are also useful in understanding grandparenting today as they underline the approaches and styles of grandparenting.

Transition to grandparenthood now occur in midlife resulting in variation in age of grandparents, grandparenting approach and motive although it has been reported that the prime significance of grandparenting is biological renewal and/or continuity and emotional self fulfillment (Hooyman & Kiyak, p.361). While younger grandparents tend to use the involved or authoritative style of grandparenting, older grandparents use the remote and individualized

Related Documents

  • Decent Essays

    The idea of middle-aged adults caring for multiple generations above and below them is known as the sandwich generation (Berk, 2013). Many different situations can cause stress in middle-age parents that are focused on their parents while at the same time focusing on their own children. Several strategies can help ease the stress of overwhelming responsibilities. In Buck (2013) nurses suggested planning ahead as a strategy to foresee future struggles and know how to deal with them. Thus becoming more prepared and minimizing stress.…

    • 245 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Aging is an important aspect of life and planning must be done to ensure that as we age that we have the support and resources available that we need to be taken care of properly. Families have different situations that have to be address as a person in their family reaches old age. Family decisions should be made that keep the care and wellbeing of the older members of the family as the primary concern. Not all decisions are going to be the same for all families and each individual situation would need to be considered to determine what is going to work best for each family. I will look at some aspects of planning and what I have discussed with my family going forward.…

    • 1488 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    “Systems are defined as meaningful wholes that are maintained by the interaction of their parts. ’’(Lazlo 1972) In Shelly Smith-Acuna’s book Systems Theory in Action, she discusses the idea of systems looking from a larger perspective that is intertwined with the smaller meanings.…

    • 805 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    It is important that the author identified systems issues such as intergenerational patterns, dysfunctional boundaries and models of marriage because she is a professional agent of social change. As a social worker she advocates for clients in vulnerable populations. Having an understanding in the identified areas can be useful when dealing with individuals of similar experiences. Most important of all, having the knowledge in these particular areas can influence her empathy when working with people who seem to have little connections with their families. For instance, understanding that marital outcome is an intergenerational pattern can influence the author empathy when dealing with an individual who struggles to keep a marriage intact.…

    • 562 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Restated from the Text Stated in Your Own Words “The ability to transcend personal interests to provide care and concern for younger and older generations; it encompasses ‘procreation, productivity and creativity and thus the generations of new beings, as well as of new products and new ideas, including a kind of self-generation concerned with further identity development’ (Hutchison, 2015).” Generativity refers to the stage in middle adulthood where individuals focus on making a significant difference in the world through caring for others, coming up with helpful ideas, or products. “Failure to find a way to contribute to future generations, or to make a contribution to the general well-being, results in self-absorption and a sense of stagnation…

    • 1149 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Individuals that were born between the years 1946 and 1964 are often referred to as baby boomers. As the end of 2016 is approaching, many of these individuals have reached the age where they are considered older adults. Traditionally, people who reached this age usually retired, but due to the size of the baby boomer cohort, changes in society, and the economy, older adults are facing a different set of challenges than ever before. A review of the literature explores both factors from lifelong development that influences older adults today, and also factors in the present that currently affect older adults. Some of the factors explored include the developmental past of older adults, their current occupational/retirement status, their connectedness…

    • 173 Words
    • 1 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    An Innovative Intergenerational Community Center That Will Benefit the Young and Old The US Census Bureau projects that by 2030 over one in five Americans will be over the age of 65. Unfortunately, the aging US population, family demographic changes, modern technologies, and social philosophies of individualism is causing the young and the old to be distanced or segregated from one another. This segregation is making it so they are missing out on positive exchanges of valuable life lessons. It is important that every community be aware of this weakness in our society that is resulting in a form of social exclusion of the young and old. This realization has brought to light an influx of intergenerational programs within our nursing homes,…

    • 670 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Abstract As of today, elders are living longer and have more active, healthier lives. Over 77 million baby boomers turning the age of 65 at a rate of 10,000 per day, the United States is experiencing historic growth in the 65-plus demographic (NCOA, 2012). But it also studies have been shown that African American elders are a lower life expectancy than other races. Even though African Americans have a lower life expectancy it has been shown that African American elders confident about what the future holds for them with health and also happiness.…

    • 1045 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Armed Service Veterans

    • 1609 Words
    • 7 Pages

    This is a summary of the professional article Titled Military Services and Men’s Health Trajectories in Later Life. This article is listed in the Journal of Gerontology Social Sciences. The primary objective behind this study was to closely analyze the variation that existed amongst armed services veterans and individuals that were never involved with the military. These associated differences were in the areas of long term patterns of health, basic living requirements, restricted life style due to physical disability or mental impairment, and a person’s perspective of their well-being.…

    • 1609 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Brilliant Essays

    Hps302 Assignment 1

    • 1757 Words
    • 8 Pages

    This theory is incorporated into this review. Evidence from various sources has shown how an individual’s happiness and wellbeing is influenced by social relationships. It has been found that elderly individuals usually maintain smaller social network connections compared with younger individuals, and that they traditionally rely on family members for support (Chang & Hsu, 2015). In the elderly, a lot of individuals are dealing will illness and functional limitations, and it is important for them to have strong relationships to help them cope with this (Sintonen & Pehkonen, 2014). It has been found that strong bonds are based on communication, emotional intensity and mutual trust.…

    • 1757 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Brilliant Essays
  • Superior Essays

    For this report I interviewed my great grandmother, Margaret Westphal, about the changes she is encountering within each domain throughout late adulthood. Last April she celebrated her 76th birthday and appears to be aging successfully according to John Rowe and Robert Kahn (Boyd & Bee, 2012, p. 462). Rowe and Kahn define successful aging as maintaining physical health, cognitive abilities, being involved in social and productive activities, and being satisfied with life. (Boyd & Bee, 2012, p. 462). When asked questions regarding the physical domain, several things my grandmother mentioned are common changes that occur in late adulthood.…

    • 981 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Alzheimers Reflection

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Growing up as a young girl, I was very fortunate to have a family that spent their lives together, and always had a strong sense of unity. It was typical for my mother and me to spend numerous hours at my grandparent’s house, enjoying their company and making memories that will last a lifetime. My mother had been partially raised by her grandparent’s during her childhood, so she always emphasized how important it is to treasure your elders and spend all the time you can with them while you have it. This was essential to our family, as we are burdened knowing that our loved one’s will one day no longer be the same person they once were. Our family has a long history of the tragic disease known as Alzheimer’s.…

    • 762 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    Older adulthood is characterized by a loss of relationships. There are fewer friendships, but the ones that remain are of a higher quality. Cartensen and collegues…

    • 343 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Benefits Of Social Aging

    • 1361 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Social aging is a disengagement theory, which is the process of individuals withdrawing and isolating from prior social interactions due to age. The activity theory, which is when the need to remain involved continues into older life, but the meaning and focus changes. Also, population ageing is a phenomenon that occurs when the median age of a country or region rises due to rising life expectancy and/or declining birth rates. Our elders face so many social issues that they have to deal with on a daily basis and the one I will be informing you on intimacy and older adults. There is always a longing to be with someone or always have someone to be close to an intimate with, but as you get older if makes you wonder how this will still progress.…

    • 1361 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Essay On Midlife Crisis

    • 703 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Middle adulthood, commonly referred to as “mid-life,” is a normal development life stage. As adults, we go through many changes throughout our life, including physical, psychological, emotional and social changes. Regardless of age, change is inevitable. More than 25 percent of individuals over the age of 35 believe they have experienced a midlife crisis; however, research suggests that over half of these “crises” were no more than normal stressful life events. Midlife crisis, described by many, is a time of turmoil and reflection in adult’s ages 39 through 50 brought on by anxiety and fear of growing old.…

    • 703 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays

Related Topics