Grandchildren-Raising Burden of Older People in Skipped-Generation Families
Keywords:
burden, grandchildren raising, older people, skipped-generation families, phenomenological studyAbstract
Objective: To examine older people’s experience in raising their grandchildren in skipped-generation families
Design: Interpretive phenomenological study
Methodology: This study was conducted on 40 purposively sampled informants who were older people raising their grandchildren in skipped-generation families. The informants were recruited based on the inclusion criteria. Data were collected in three districts of Nakhon Ratchasima province for a period of 8 months, from February to September 2019, by means of in-depth interviews, non-participatory observation, and feld records. The data were analysed using Diekelmann & Allen’s seven-step method and subjected to a reliability check.
Results: Eight major types of experience were identifed by the informants: 1) struggle; 2) working fngers to the bone; 3) sleeplessness; 4) endless work despite age; 5) health deterioration; 6) suffering worse illnesses during grandchildren’s ailments; 7) stressinduced depression; and 8) endless rearing duty. The majority of the informants were faced with both physical and mental diffculties caused by the heavy and numerous responsibilities in raising their grandchildren. At the same time, the older people made all efforts to maintain
the families, due to their love and affection for their children and grandchildren.
Recommendations: It is recommended that nurses provide proactive care for older people raising their grandchildren in skipped-generation families, conduct regular assessments of their physical and mental health, and provide them with other types of necessary care.
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