Grandma's Hands: Parental Perceptions of the Importance of Grandparents as Secondary Caregivers in Families of Children with Disabilities

This study examines parental perceptions of the importance of grandparents as providers of routine care to children with disabilities and the impact of such assistance on parental well-being. Data are drawn from a survey and follow-up interactive interviews. Findings of the survey indicate that: 1) grandparents are a common source of weekly assistance-significantly more common than other relatives or friends and neighbors; 2) where grandparents participate, the number of other sources of support is also higher; and 3) help from grandparents has a positive, while the number of other sources of help has a negative, relationship to parental ability to maintain a positive emotional outlook and to avoid physical exhaustion. Findings of the interactive interviews suggest that: 1) grandparent participation can promote pride and "normalized attitudes" by helping grandparents to get to know the child with a disability on an intimate basis; 2) when grandparents do not participate, parents may feel the need to manage the information given to and the emotional responses experienced by grandparents who have not had a chance to get know and love the child through frequent, direct contact; and 3) parents are very concerned that if grandparents themselves begin to need help due to increased age and disability, they will not ask for it because of fear that parents are already overburdened by the unusual demands of their parenting roles.