Grandparents of Children With Developmental Disabilities: Perceptions, Beliefs, and Involvement in Their Care

Abstract

This exploratory study evaluated the perceptions and beliefs of grandparents regarding their grandchild with a developmental disability and their involvement in his/her care and the impact of the child's disability on their lives and on their relationship between them. The sample included 16 grandparents of children with a severe developmental disability ranging in age from 5-10 who were studying in a special school. Data was collected by using semistructured interviews in the home of the grandparents. The findings indicated that grandparents' involvement and satisfaction with their role were a function of their attitudes towards disabilities in children in general and their relationship with their adult children, as well as their own life experiences. Their involvement with their grandchild with developmental disability served to strengthen the relationship between the grandparents. An important implication of the study is that professionals should plan interventions to support and encourage grandparents to be more involved in the care of the child with developmental disability.

Grandparents' Involvement and Support in Families with Children with Disabilities

“…These initial feelings are also reported in studies of grandparents of children with disabilities from different cultures (Gardner et al, 2004;Murphy & Della Corte, 1990;Scherman et al, 1995). As another example, grandparents in Panamanian, Israeli, Korean, and New Zealander cultures interact with their grandchild with a disability by spending time together or providing babysitting for parents (Gardner et al, 2004;Katz & Kessel, 2002;Lee, 2008;Mirfin-Veitch, Bray, & Watson, 1997).…”

“…Among the support sources outside the nuclear family, grandparents are the most prevalent and important (although friends, neighbors, and other extended family members may offer valuable support) (Katz & Kessel, 2002). The support roles occupied by grandparents of children with disabilities are diverse.…”

“…The few international studies on grandparenting focused on research participants who reside outside the U.S. provide valuable information for initially understanding international grandparents' roles and their characteristics. Katz and Kessel (2002) investigated the perceptions and beliefs of Israeli grandparents regarding their grandchild's disability, their involvement in his=her care, the impact of the child's disability on their lives, and their relationship with the child. Also, Mirfin-Veitch et al (1997) explored the factors and characteristics of New Zealanders parent-grandparent relationships in families of children with disabilities.…”

Generative Grandfathering: A Conceptual Framework for Nurturing Grandchildren

“…Grandfathers share with grandchildren the family's rich culture to help grandchildren develop a sense of cultural identity and unity with the family (Wiscott & Kopera-Frye, 2000). Family identity work also means reinforcing parental authority (Neugarten & Weinstein, 1964) even when the grandfather may disagree with the parents on certain issues (Katz & Kessel, 2002). Family identity work may be precipitated by a family crisis such as a parental divorce 344 J. S. Bates (Hilton & Macari, 1997), teen pregnancy and subsequent three-generation living arrangements (Oyserman et al, 1993), or surrogate caregiving in the absence of the parents (Kolomer, & McCallion, 2005).…”

Grandparents and siblings of children with congenital heart disease

“…Grandparenting can be gratifying and mutually benefitting when their grandchildren are healthy and achieving normal developmental milestones. The process may be altered when families undergo a traumatic experience such as birth of an ill infant, which becomes an all‐consuming experience requiring every family member to participate in caregiving (Katz & Kessel 2002, Rempel & Harrison 2007).…”