No abstract

No abstract

The study explored the experiences of African-American grandmothers residing in rural communities caring for their grandchildren, while suffering from chronic health issues. The research examined their physical and emotional health, physical functioning, well-being, social support, and resources of these grandmothers from a Family Development approach. Given the trends of providing care for a grandchild, it is widely recognized that caregivers may experience stress, burden, and the disruption of their well-being and social activities as well as the pressure associated with caregiving roles, responsibilities, and tasks. The grandmothers reported challenges that included stressors such as health issues, financial difficulties, limited support, transportation difficulties, and disruption in social activities. A major finding was that the grandmother’s health did not negatively impact their ability to care for their grandchildren.

The study explored the experiences of eight African American grandmothers residing in rural areas caring for their grandchildren, while suffering from chronic health issues. The research examined the health, physical functioning, well-being, social support, and resources of these grandmothers. The grandmothers reported challenges and needs which included their own health issues, financial difficulties, limited support, transportation difficulties, and childcare concerns. Implications for the study were that developing health education programs and other formal supports focusing on health, resources and social support have a positive influence on grandmother's perceptions of their changing health and support.

Military-Centric Social Work Education is discussed as a mindfulness-based conceptual approach to the development and delivery of social work curriculum and instruction, as well as a way of addressing the specialized educational needs of social workers who may provide social work services to veterans, military personnel, and their families. A call to action is presented to social work educators to effectively educate social workers to be competent in addressing the ever increasing needs of those military-connected individuals who have volunteered to protect and defend the United States of America (U.S.A).