Boomers stepping up to raise their grandchildren in record numbers

More than 2.4 million grandparents are raising their grandchildren. They recognized the need to offer their grandchildren stability in a family emergency. They changed their plans to give their grandchildren the love and support they need.

Slightly more than half – 1.3 million – of these families contain both grandparents; 1 million have only a grandmother; and 150,000 have only a grandfather.

Of the grandparents raising grandchildren, 55 percent of grandmothers and 47 percent of grandfathers are under age 55. And 19 percent of grandmothers and 15 percent of grandfathers are under age 45.

AARP offers an overview that will help grandparents address issues and learn where to get can help.

Topics include:

• Your legal status.
• Your finances.
• Your housing.
• Your grandchild's education.
• Your health.
• AARP resources.
• Other resources.
• Books.

AARP also offers other information for grandparents raising children:

• State fact sheets about the range of support services, benefits, and policies grandparents need to fulfill their caregiving role.

• GrandCare News, a free newsletter. The newsletter is sent through the mail.

Other resources include:   

• Aging Internet Information Notes -- Administration on Aging.

• Grandparents Raising Grandchildren -- Child Welfare Information Gateway.

• 10 Tips for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren: How to Avoid Financial Shipwreck When Raising Your Children's Children -- MSNBC.

• Tips for Grandparents Raising Grandchildren -- ParentingWeekly.

• Move Over Nanny, Here Comes Granny! A Generation of Grandparents Do the Second Shift -- Baby Boomer Village.

Tomorrow's Survive and Thrive Boomer Guide will discuss making your home safe for your grandchild.