       Document 0693
 DOCN  M9640693
 TI    The prevalence of grandmothers as primary caregivers in a poor pediatric
       population.
 DT    9604
 AU    Joslin D; Brouard A; Department of Community Health, William Paterson
       College of New; Jersey, Wayne 07470, USA.
 SO    J Community Health. 1995 Oct;20(5):383-401. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
       MED/96122357
 AB    In the wake of the HIV/AIDS and crack cocaine epidemics, poor urban
       communities face growing numbers of older adults, largely grandmothers,
       who have become surrogate parents to children orphaned by these
       epidemics. This study is the first in the United States to determine the
       prevalence of older surrogate parents among families registered at
       pediatric clinics. The three clinics selected were in low income
       neighborhoods of New York City with a high incidence of female HIV/AIDS
       and substance abuse. Using a 50% random sample of 1,375 records of
       registered families, data were obtained on the number and ages of
       relatives serving as surrogate parents. In 11% of these 1,375 families
       with children 12 years and under a parent was not the caregiver. In 8%
       the caregiver was a grandmother. Forty-seven percent of these women were
       55 years or older, 25% were 60 years or older and 8% were 70 years or
       older. Most of these women were caring for more than one child. Ten
       percent of the total of 2,445 children, 12 years and under, lived in
       non-parent headed families. Eight percent lived with a grandmother, 1%
       with other parental generation relatives and 1% in foster care. Given
       the stresses associated with caregiving in late life and the greater
       risk of poor health among low income African-American and Hispanic
       elderly, older surrogate parents from these communities are a
       potentially high health risk population whose own needs may go
       unrecognized and unattended. The young ages of the children suggest that
       many grandparents may continue to be caregivers as they reach their
       sixties, seventies and even eighties. Clinical and longitudinal data are
       needed to determine how prolonged surrogate parenting in late life
       affects the health of older caregivers and the children in their care.
       Coordination between health and social services for the elderly and for
       children are needed to promote effective programs for these families.
 DE    Aged  *Caregivers/PSYCHOLOGY  Child  *Child Care/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA
       *Family Characteristics  Female  Health Services Needs and Demand  Human
       Middle Age  New York City  *Poverty  Public Policy  Random Allocation
       Social Problems  JOURNAL ARTICLE

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

