Many of us grow up with a script for how life is supposed to go. We attend school. We leave home. We build our lives. If we have children, eventually they grow up and move out. And then we become “empty nesters.”
But many people’s lives don’t follow that script. Sometimes grandparents find themselves raising grandchildren when the children’s parents are unable to do so.
These situations are known as grandfamilies. For these grandparents, the nest may never really be empty.
What are grandfamilies?
A grandfamily, sometimes called a kinship family, is a family in which children are being raised by grandparents, other relatives, or close family friends.
Grandfamilies can form for many reasons, including a parent’s illness, death, incarceration, substance use disorder, mental health struggles, military deployment, or other family crises.
Sometimes this happens with little or no warning. A grandparent may get a phone call, take in a child, and abruptly become a full-time caregiver. Suddenly they are responsible for school pickup, doctor’s appointments, meals, homework, emotional support, and everything else that comes with raising a child.
Grandfamilies are more common than many people may realize. About 2.5 million children in the U.S. are being raised in kinship or grandfamily households. And it’s often a long-term commitment: 84.7% of grandparents raising grandchildren have been doing so for at least a year, and nearly half for five years or more.
Grandfamilies are especially common in Philadelphia. According to Census data cited in a report by WHYY, about 30% of grandparents living with grandchildren under age 18 are responsible for their care. That’s more than 14,000 grandparent caregivers and roughly 45,000 children living with grandparents.
When caregiving gets even more complicated
Many grandfamily caregivers are managing their own health while also coordinating school, meals, transportation, medical care, legal paperwork, and emotional support for a child. Some are retired and living on fixed incomes. Others keep working longer than planned because their household expenses have increased.
Long-standing inequities can make these challenges even harder. Some grandfamilies struggle with poverty, housing concerns, transportation issues, or limited access to health care.
The WHYY report also notes that grandparents who become caregivers frequently encounter legal paperwork, court appearances, and complicated systems with little guidance on where to begin.
Poverty, disabilities, or other barriers can add another layer of challenge. When families struggle to access stable housing, reliable transportation, legal support, health care, or financial assistance, the health and well-being of both caregivers and children can be put at risk. These grandfamilies often urgently need support.
You don’t have to do it alone
Many Philadelphia caregivers are unaware of available services or struggle to navigate systems designed for traditional families. Fortunately, a number of local organizations are here to help.
PA KinConnector offers information and referrals around financial assistance, legal issues, support groups, and other services for kinship families.
The Pennsylvania Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Legal Line helps older caregivers navigate custody and other legal questions.
Local organizations like Delaware County’s Grands Stepping Up connect grandparent caregivers with resources, community support, and practical assistance.
Caregiving can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re balancing your own needs with those of someone you love. Having someone to answer questions or guide you through the process can make a big difference. Support groups can connect caregivers with others who truly understand what they’re going through.
A different kind of family story
Grandfamilies provide love, stability, and opportunity for children who need them. But these caregivers shouldn’t have to do it alone. By making sure they can access legal help, financial assistance, community support, and quality health care, we can help both grandparents and grandchildren thrive — no matter how full the nest may be.
