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Health Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities across the Lifespan pp 69–77Cite as

Grandparents as Caregivers for Grandchildren with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

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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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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of American Ethnic Studies, Faculty Affiliate, West Coast Poverty Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    LaShawnDa Pittman Ph.D.

  2. Institute for the Study of Disadvantage and Disability, 776 Windsor Parkway, Atlanta, GA, 30342, USA

    Janice Nodvin B.A.

  3. Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Maeve Howett Ph.D., APRN, CPNP-PC, IBCLC

  4. Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, 1520 Clifton Road, Suite 350, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Maeve Howett Ph.D., APRN, CPNP-PC, IBCLC

Authors
  1. LaShawnDa Pittman Ph.D.
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  2. Janice Nodvin B.A.
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  3. Maeve Howett Ph.D., APRN, CPNP-PC, IBCLC
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to LaShawnDa Pittman Ph.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Innovative Solutions for Disadvantage and Disability and Department of Pediatrics, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA

    I. Leslie Rubin

  2. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and Medical Services, Division for Developmental and Developmental Disabilities, Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services, Jerusalem, Israel

    Joav Merrick

  3. Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI, USA

    Donald E. Greydanus  & Dilip R. Patel  & 

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© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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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

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-18095-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-18096-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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