In Philadelphia, where 17,000 families are headed by grandparents, a Manayunk-based nonprofit is helping senior caregivers tackle the unexpected challenges of raising another generation of children while battling isolation and financial strain.

Connectedly's GrandFamily Resource Center (GFRC), established in 2006 through a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant, serves grandparent-headed families across Greater Philadelphia. According to the center, the need is particularly acute in the African American community because one in five children lives with grandparents for some or all of their childhood.

The program, part of Connectedly’s efforts to serve older adults, addresses a critical need, as many grandparents become primary caregivers due to their adult children's incarceration, addiction, extreme poverty, mental illness or physical disabilities.

"These wonderful grandparents have stepped up to become full-time caretakers of the children until they are 18," says Arlene Segal, a certified trauma-competent professional with a master's degree in counseling from Villanova University who has worked at Connectedly for more than 30 years.

Vietnam War veteran Ollie Tansimore, 74, of Germantown, has attended the program for three-and-a-half years while raising his 10-year-old granddaughter, Malaysia. He gained legal guardianship after removing her from foster care, he said, because “her biological mother was unstable.” 

“It is very helpful,” Tanismore said of the program. “I have learned a lot of good tips. My wife died in 2019, but this group has made me feel that I am not alone. We support each other.”

The organization runs support groups across the city, including a four-year-old program at Abbottsford Falls Family Practice & Counseling Center in East Falls. Some grandparents participate in two-hour in-person meetings, while others join hour-long phone sessions. A new group is launching at Temple of Prayer Ministries in Germantown, though it's already reached capacity.

Many participants are in their 70s, with the oldest being 83. They face unique challenges balancing retirement-age life with raising young children.

"Retirement is supposed to allow seniors to enjoy more free time, but when these senior citizen caretakers' friends go to a movie or lunch, they cannot go," Segal says. "They can only go out in the morning when the kids are in school."

The demands of modern parenting can also be difficult for this generation. 

"Grandparents have to learn technology, which is often a big challenge," Segal said. "And the violence kids face today is horrific – think about kids going through metal detectors in school. This is the world these grandparents have to raise the kids in, and they all worry about their safety.”

Despite these challenges, success stories emerge. "Some of these grandchildren go off to college," Segal said. "It is not all dark. There is a lot of laughter at the meetings, and it’s great to meet these kids after they are grown up. There is always hope, and there is light at the end of the tunnel.” 

Sara, who is raising a 15-year-old granddaughter, praises the program's comprehensive support. "We share valuable information and ideas to help our grandchildren achieve their best abilities," she said. "The grandparents are awesome, Arlene is wonderful, and the guest speakers are very knowledgeable."

Janet, who is caring for grandchildren ages 7 and 11, describes finding a support network through Connectedly. "I have experienced a feeling of being a part of a strong sisterhood group," she says. "I feel like the group members and staff are now my family."

The program aligns with recent warnings from U.S. Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy about loneliness and social isolation among seniors, which he describes as a public health crisis as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes daily.

Beyond the grandparent support groups, Connectedly hosts bi-weekly "Healthy Lives" community groups across Philadelphia, including at Interfaith House in Germantown, where seniors can socialize and build friendships.

For more information, visit connectedly.org. Len Lear can be reached at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com