Lynn group lends hand to grandparents

LYNN – According to Grandparents as Parents (GAP), there are more than 4,000 grandparents in Lynn raising their grandchildren.Grandparents as Parents is a program of Lynn Community Connections Coalition designed to offer support services to grandparents acting as primary caregivers for their grandchildren.The group meets twice a month at the Lynn Community Connections Coalition, 298 Union St.Dotty Annis, who works with the grandparents group, said there are 20 or 25 grandparents in the group.”There is a lot of enthusiasm,” she said. “They like to come together because they are all in the same situation.”Lynn resident Liz Kurtz, who is a job coach, said she has been involved with GAP for a couple of years.”I find that it’s very difficult in this kind of situation,” she said. “We’re very isolated and it’s helpful to be involved with people in the same situation. The primary reason I go is to be with other women in the same situation raising their grandchildren. I’m 65 years old and friends my age don’t have kids. It’s the sharing.”Kurtz is raising her 4-year-old great-grandson alone and he has been with her since he was 18 months old.”I am his sole and primary caregiver,” she said. “I am his legal guardian. I work full time. I’m a single parent; again, I’ve gone full circle.”Kurtz admits that making the decision to care for her great-grandchild full time was not an easy one.”It was either me or foster care,” she said. “When that situation presented itself I did a lot of soul searching and I really had to think about it. I didn’t want to take on this responsibility if I would resent the child because you are really giving up your old life and taking on a whole new life. Anyone who decides to do this needs to go into without resentment and with love in their hearts.”Lynn Community Connections Coalition is looking into the possibility of developing a grandparents’ housing development project to meet the housing needs of grandparents raising their grandchildren.The organization is distributing surveys through service organizations to help determine if there is an interest in a housing complex for people raising grandchildren.Kurtz said she believes there is a huge need for that type of housing in this area.”Senior housing prohibits children so there is a real need for housing for grandparents raising grandchildren,” she said. “There has to be a place that meets the needs of seniors and children but getting people to come out and support it has been very difficult because so many people in this situation feel they have failed their kids and are ashamed.”Anyone who would like additional information on GAP or the housing initiative should contact Annis at 781-477-2902.