Grandparents group conducts lively talk

CHICOPEE - Over 40 people ranging from concerned grandparents to information seeking service providers were in attendance at the Chicopee Council on Aging & Senior Center for the Listening and Learning Tour conducted by the newly-formed Commission on the Status of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

Undersecretary of Elder Affairs Sandra Albright, former State Rep. John Lepper, Department of Children and Families representative Manuela Dacosta and Sheila Donahue-King from Elder Affairs participated in the two-hour interactive discussion that examined the challenges associated with this caregiving responsibility.

Grandparents from all ages expressed their heartfelt feelings which described obstacles related to legal obligations, physical and emotional health, frustrations with the system and education and financial concerns.

Commission Chairman John Lepper, who moderated the meeting, said of the event, "I am truly grateful to the grandparents who participated in the commission's listening session at the Chicopee Council on Aging. Their willingness to share their concerns gives the commission the information it needs to help shape policies that will benefit caring seniors often in very difficult circumstances, who are supporting and sustaining so many of the Commonwealth's youngsters."

James Leyden, program coordinator for the Chicopee Council on Aging and co-facilitator for the Grandparents as Parents Program, was also pleased with the event.

"We are grateful to the commission for selecting Chicopee as a location for this fact-finding session. We were also very happy with the high number of participants and encouraged that the issues presented will aid in future policy and practice," Leyden said.

The commission was created by the state legislature with support from the Patrick administration to recommend policies and strategies to better serve the Commonwealth's grandparent-headed families and will be working closely with both the Executive Office of Elder Affairs and the Department of Children and Families.

Submitted by James Leyden