The power of grandparents in grandfamilies

Families that love and care for each other can take many forms, and there is no one-size-fits-all conception of a household unit.

In many cases, grandparents have a hugely important role in helping to raise happy, healthy kids. Nearly 8 million children in the U.S. live in households headed up by grandparents or other relatives.¹  These families are known as “grandfamilies.” This also includes 35% of children in foster care who are being raised by a relative.¹

These grandfamilies can provide wonderful support and opportunities for connections across generations. But this can also mean additional challenges and barriers — especially when grandfamilies don’t always receive the support they need to thrive. According to recent research, children and caregivers in grandfamilies can experience more significant health, mental health, social and financial challenges than others.²

For example, seniors with a grandchild present in the home are substantially more likely to experience food insecurity than when no grandchildren are present.³  This can have a massive impact on overall health and chronic disease prevention.

With all of this in mind, UnitedHealthcare has been committed to giving grandfamilies the support – and celebration – they deserve. In honor of Grandparents Day on Sept. 8 and Grandparents Appreciation Month in September, UnitedHealthcare is providing resources such as the Grandfamilies Guide to Good Health. This guide provides families with:

• Tips to make healthy meal choices
• Ideas to save on grocery costs
• A preventive care checklist
• Activities to enjoy family time   

UnitedHealthcare is also hosting several special events to Celebrate Grandparents in Houston, Phoenix, Indianapolis, Charlotte, Albuquerque and Tuscon, which are designed for the whole family. These events are filled with activities, snacks and refreshments, health care resources and more.

Being healthy is about the whole person — and the interconnectedness between generations can be a big part of that. In September and every month, UnitedHealthcare is committed to the well-being of grandparents and the people they care about.

For more information or to download the Grandfamilies Guide to Good Health, visit grandparentsday.com.