KINSHIP CHRONICLES SUMMER SAFETY TIPS FOR GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN Submitted by Sandra Leonard, DHR Division of Public Health May 2007 Keeping your grandchildren safe may seem like a fulltime job, and at times it will be. However, by establishing good safety practices this summer, you are not only setting a good example, but you are protecting your grandchildren from potential harm. The following are tips from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). FUN IN THE SUN: Wear lightweight clothing, and a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses Avoid direct sun exposure, specially between 10:00am and 3:00pm HEAT STRESS IN CHILDREN Never leave your child unattended in the car. Temperatures inside a closed vehicle can reach over 140 degrees in minutes Make sure your grandchild is hydrated, drinks plenty of water before a sporting event or prolonged physical activity POOL SAFETY All pools should have a fence 4-feet high around the pool The fence should not have openings that a Spring Issue 2007 young child could get into BICYCLE SAFETY Next Issue: July 2007 Always make sure they Special Points of Interest: wear a correctly fitting helmet. When buying a helmet, look for the label Legal Advice for Grandinside that says the hel- parents met meets CPSC safety Office of Child Support standards Helps Grandparents LAWN MOWER SAFETY Caregiver Updates Do not allow children to Area Agency on Aging ride as passengers on Support Groups ride-on mowers Use a mower with a control that stops moving Inside This Issue: forward if the handle is released Getting to the Heart of a 2 Kinship Care Support Group CLIFF'S NOTES: CAREGIVER UPDATES Submitted by Cliff Burt, DHR, Division of Aging Services Kinship Care In the Georgia 2 Mountains Confessions of a Relative 2 Caregiver Coordinator From the National Center on Caregiving: Study: Does High Caregiver Stress Lead to Nursing Home Entry?" A study for the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Plan- ning and Evaluation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, released "how informal care, paid formal care, and stress or burden experienced by caregivers relates to nursing home placement". The study found that the more stress a family caregiver Four Important Documents 3 for Relative Caregivers experienced, the more likely Snack Tips 3 the care recipient would end up going to a nursing home. Child Support Services Hero 3 For more information: visit: of the Month Helps Grand- http://www.os.dhhs.gov/ Golden Nuggets of Wisdom 4 GETTING TO THE HEART OF A KINSHIP CARE SUPPORT GROUP Submitted by Kerrie Sirmans, Heart of Georgia Altamaha Area Agency on Aging Support groups are standard prac- the Toombs Central Elementary tice in the fields of social services School in collaboration with their to provide an outlet for people to school counselor. These groups come together, share their experi- highlight topics such as resources ences, learn new ways to cope and available, coping strategies, and to reduce stress. The goals of the stress reduction, to name a few. It "GRAND GATHERING" support also provides relative caregivers an groups in Heart of Georgia Al- opportunity to just talk about their tamaha AAA region reflect this experiences and socialize. Grand- ideology. parents have frequently mentioned There are three support groups feeling alone in their struggles, so it currently available to grandparents is a comfort to attend a "GRAND raising grandchildren-- Appling GATHERING" and find out they county, Wayne county and one at are not alone. We have a saying that maintains the focus of the groups during our "GRAND GATHERINGS"- "In union there is strength." The grandparents of the Heart It has helped me to of GA re- the fact, that after I gion will have gone to a group, certainly be I feel less depressed. strong with --Ms. S. a Heart of the help of GA Altamaha each other. GRAND GATHERING support group member KINSHIP CARE IN THE GEORGIA MOUNTAINS Submitted by: Julia Jessie, Legacy Link, Inc. Area Agency on Aging Kinship care support groups in Rabun, Habersham, Lumpkin and Forsyth counties continue to amaze me. They are the epitome of what sharing groups are all about. The participants are taking ownership of the meetings and embracing new members with open arms. Many grandparents moved to the GA Mountain area upon retirement to be near children and grandchildren with Medicaid, who are the best counselors, the intent of becoming weekend grand- and the best places to take children for parents. Needless to say, they have hiking or picnics. been called upon to become full-time The vast amount of information shared caregivers for their grandchildren. As between these grandparents is incredinew resident/retirees to the area, they ble. All reports they are in a better posiare now quickly learning from local tion to deal with every day problems residences of the support groups where just in knowing there is someone else they can find the best resources, like they can call on for help. which counseling facilities accept CONFESSIONS OF A RELATIVE CAREGIVER COORDINATOR Submitted by: Irma Garcia Rose, Grands Who Care , A program of Mercy Senior Care in Rome Last week, my co-worker and I went to the nursing home to visit one of our clients from Grands Who Care. Let me tell you about her. She has been raising her granddaughter since birth. Her granddaughter has been growing as expected of a child, to become a beautiful, intelligent, and according to the grandmother, very talkative teenager. At a particular support group meeting, issues arose surrounding how to tell their grandchildren about their biological parents. The grandmother opened up and shared her fear about her granddaughter not loving her if she knew the truth. It took may talks and individual counseling sessions before the grandmother was able to tell her granddaughter that she was adopted. Two Christmases ago, the grandmother called excited and crying that her granddaughter still loves her after she told her she was adopted. Standing by her bed in the nursing home, I was reminded of all of these conversations and realized once more how much I have learned from her about love and family commitment. Page 2 KINSHIP CHRONICLES FOUR IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS EVERY RELATIVE CAREGIVER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT Submitted by Lindsay Verity, Atlanta Legal Aid Society Grandparents/Relative Caregiver Project At the Atlanta Legal Aid Society's his or her wishes are carried out. 3. Grandparent/Relative Caregiver Pro- 1. Financial Power of Attorney ject, one of the most common con- permits the caregiver to choose an cerns is what happens agent to manage all of when a relative care- their financial and property giver is no longer able matters in the case they are to raise the children in unable to. their care. Drafting some important docu- 2. Durable Power of 4. ments now can help Attorney for Health relieve some of their Care--the caregiver worries. While the relative caregiver is The Grandparent/Relative Caregiver Project is a compo- chooses someone to make health care decisions for still alive, there are nent of Atlanta Legal Aid the caregiver when he or four important docu- Society she is unable to do so. ments that can ensure Living Will-- states whether the caregiver wants life sustaining or death delaying treatments to be applied. It allows the caregiver to determine if he or she wishes to discontinue artificial life support ( such as a respirator) Standby Guardianship--gives legal authority to someone else to care for the child. If the relative caregiver has adopted the child and is still living, the caregiver has the right to name a guardian to care for the child in the event the caregiver cannot care for the child. SNACK TIPS FOR YOU AND YOUR GRANDCHILD Information provided from Centers for Disease Control, Fruits and Veggies Matter Website Adopted from www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/tips website, consider the following helpful snack tips: Try hummus and whole wheat pitas Encourage your child to choose his or her own fruit when shopping Try baked tortilla chips with black bean and corn salsa Look for fruit without added sugar or syrups Store cleaned, cut-up veggies in the fridge at eye level and keep low-fat dip on hand Pick up readypacked salad greens from the produce shelf for a quick and easy snack anytime Drink a fruit smoothie with whole fruit, ice cubes and lowfat or fat-free yogurt CHILD SUPPORT SERVICES HERO OF THE MONTH NOMINEE HELPS GRANDPARENTS Submitted by Sheila Brown, DHR, Office of Child Support Services In April, a grandmother came in care. Anita assured them from OCSS staff. The two the office with her two grand- OCSS only wanted to help grandchildren loved their toys. sons ages 9 and 7. They had them and not take their Efforts are still being made to been living with their grandpar- grandchildren away. provide further assistance to ents after being abandoned by Anita assisted in the appli- the grandfather and the grand- their mother when the youngest cation process by complet- sons. The grandfather has been was 2; their father was currently ing all parts she could( the referred to other agencies for in jail. The grandparents had grandfather could not read other resources, but has not yet not applied for any services to or write) Anita also assisted Anita Janes, Establishment applied for OCSS assistance; help care for the children be- with getting the children Agent in the Gainesville office he is still scared of cause they were afraid the state donated toys during Easter has been with Child Support "government agencies." would remove them from their Services for 10 years. Spring Issue 2007 Page 3 Department of Human Resources (DHR) Division of Aging Services 9th Floor 2 Peachtree Street Atlanta, GA 30303 (404) 657-5258 Coming Soon: DHR web link for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren ! The Georgia Department of Human Resources, Division of Aging Services administers a statewide system of services for senior citizens, their families and caregivers. We work with other aging agencies and organizations to effectively and efficiently respond to the needs of elderly Georgians. DAS meets the challenge of Georgia's growing older population through continued service improvement and innovation. The Division of Aging Services vision is to assist older Georgians in Living Longer, Living Safely, Living Well. GOLDEN NUGGETS OF WISDOM FROM GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN Submitted by: Leslie M. Sessley, DHR, Division of Aging Services Over the past two years I have been with the DHR, Division of Aging Ser- vices, there are "golden nuggets of wisdom" that I learned through speak- ing with grandparents and other rela- tives raising children. Here are a few lessons I picked up and would like to share with relative caregivers: Do not underestimate the power in small numbers. It does not take a lot of people to start a "power house." You do have the power to make a difference in your life and your grandchildren's lives, but it is up to you. If one person has a dream, two or more can make it happen. Don't be afraid to share your pas- sions and desires for your family with other relative caregivers. You may find out that other people may share the same goals you have when it comes to raising your grandchildren. Find a connection. Get " plugged in" be helpful to you and your grand- child. Support groups or profes- sional counseling may be of assis- tance. Allow others to share their love to you, as you have done and find resources for the children in that will help you. Use resources that you are familiar with so that you may find support. Newspapers, TV, schools, malls, an healthcare facilities may help. your care. What you have done is out of love and concern for your grandchildren. This is very com- Caption describing picture or mendable, but also graphic. allow someone to show you the same love and con- It is healthy to ask for help when cern. You also deserve love given needed. Once you get connected, by others through acts of support you may find that just talking over and assistance. problems in a supportive place may