ABSTRACT
As one ages, most individuals look forward to retirement, leisure time, and enjoying family, particularly becoming a grandparent. For some older adults, this image is shattered when they are called upon to parent their grandchildren. Grandparent caregivers are called upon to parent a second time around, for a variety of reasons, and, with the exception of military deployment, most are because of a family crisis. Depending upon the particular rural region of United States under consideration, the demographics of grandparent caregivers can vary. In Georgia, these kinship caregivers are primarily African American with an average age of 67 years, and caring for an average of 2.06 children. Bailey and Tucker found a majority of rural grandparent caregivers in their study had high levels of economic stress, although some degree of economic stress was buffered by utilization of government assistance. Although there are challenges for rural grandparent caregivers, there are agencies and organizations that are working to provide services and support.
