ITEM PHOTO BY OWEN O’ROURKE
Meegan Best, center, was given an appreciation award by grandparents raising grandchildren in a ceremony at Gregg House. From left are grandmothers Maria Charles, Ada Bautista, Adelay da Pena, Vrsula Sanchez and Cleo Capellan.
BY THOR JOURGENSEN
LYNN — Maria Charles joined the Gregg House grandparents group three years ago in tears and frustrated over how to raise her granddaughter.
Today, Charles’ granddaughter is focused on school and Charles credits group coordinator Meegan Best with helping her.
“If it wasn’t for the group, I couldn’t have done this,” said Lynn resident Charles.
Meeting every Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at 106 Broad St., Charles and 15 fellow grandparents turn to Best and the group’s guest speakers for support and to boost each other’s spirits through the tough process of disciplining, educating and loving grandchildren.
The group started with nine members and its growth to 15, said Best, reflects an escalating trend of older Americans becoming surrogate parents to grandchildren who, for a variety of reasons, cannot live with their parents.
The group’s coordinator and a state Department of Children and Families social worker, Best said DCF and Gregg House collaborated to form the group out of “realization that more and more grandparents are in the role of parents.”
“The mission of the group is to unite, empower and support grandparents,” Best said.
Best’s ability to help the seniors she meets earned her surprise appreciation Thursday when Charles and other grandparents gave her a plaque “in gratitude for all of your support and dedication.”
Donna Hanson of Lynn is raising her 11-year-old granddaughter and said the grandparents group helped her sort out behavior problems and other challenges involved in caring for a child.
“It gets you through some bad days,” Hanson said.
Lynn grandparent Andrea Kelly said Best offers grandparents advice and urges them to offer each other child raising tips. She also shares helpful websites with group members.
“Meegan will say, ‘You can get help here — look this up,’” Kelly said.
Best said the group, starting in January, will discuss substance abuse and the opiate drug crisis. She said the rise in heroin addiction is a contributing factor in the increase in the number of seniors who are raising their children’s children, often abandoning retirement for a return to the workforce.
“The opiate epidemic has really impacted grandparents: More and more people are put in a position of having to step up and help,” Best said.
Thor Jourgensen can be reached at [email protected].
