When grandparents become parents
Elderly grandparents in Tanzania are increasingly becoming primary caregivers for their grandchildren due to parental migration and economic hardship. Experts highlight the resulting financial and emotional strain on these caregivers who lack stable income.
Why it matters
This highlights a growing social crisis regarding elderly welfare and family structure shifts in developing economies.
GEITA: GRANDPARENTS are increasingly taking on the responsibility of raising their grandchildren as some biological parents step away from their duties, creating growing social, economic and emotional challenges for elderly caregivers.
While grandparents have traditionally played an important role in preserving family values, culture and providing guidance, child welfare experts warn that many are now being pushed into becoming full-time parents when mothers and fathers fail to provide adequate care.
For 67-year-old widow Ms Asteria Buseng’wa of Geita, raising grandchildren has become her daily reality. She currently cares for four grandchildren after her daughters separated from their spouses and later left in search of employment.
“They said they were going to find jobs. The responsibility of taking care of their children is now on me,” she said.
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