Abstract
Although there are more grandparents raising grandchildren than at any other time in American history, the experiences of those caring for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) has received scant attention. Even less is known about the health challenges and solutions characterizing these families. This chapter uses data collected from 45 grandparents raising grandchildren with IDD in the greater Atlanta metropolitan area to examine their caregiving experiences, with particular attention given to the health of both caregivers and children, and the obstacles and strategies associated with meeting their health needs. Community based organizations such as Innovative Solutions for Disadvantage and Disability and related programs (e.g., Project GRANDD or Grandparents Raising and Nurturing Dependents with Disabilities) play a critical role to this vulnerable population of caregivers charged with strategizing to ensure the well-being of their families.
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Pittman, L., Nodvin, J., Howett, M. (2016). Grandparents as Caregivers for Grandchildren with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. In: Rubin, I.L., Merrick, J., Greydanus, D.E., Patel, D.R. (eds) Health Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities across the Lifespan. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18096-0_6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-18096-0_6
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