Older Caregivers Seek Help With School Portals, Tutoring and Homework

Some Davidson County adults who expected to spend retirement differently are now helping with homework, logging into school portals and attending parent meetings. Gerontologist Sam Cradduck said older caregivers should know they are not alone in finding the digital side of schooling confusing. "You may be the oldest member in the PTA, but you're not probably the most confused," Cradduck said. "There are many younger parents that are still trying to learn to navigate the online portals and the tablets that their kids have, not having textbooks."

Cradduck said math instruction has changed as well. "School isn't what it once was, and math doesn't math anymore. There's this new math thing," Cradduck said. Her first step for caregivers is to identify available help. "I think that's the most important thing to find out is what resources are available to you, and how can you tap into it and make sure that you find a tutor that can help with some of the things you're not maybe the best at," Cradduck said.

Aging well coach Katherine Ambrose said older adults have guided children through school before. "It might look different, but the younger parents, they haven't helped kids go all the way through school," Ambrose said. Aging expert Amy O'Rourke encouraged caregivers to ask for help and to use public libraries. "I love the library, the librarians will help with the Wi-Fi and the app and give you other resources," O'Rourke said. She also pointed families toward school counselors and parent liaison staff.

Board-certified physician Dr. Rhea Rogers said older caregivers should speak with teachers about their situation. Rogers described the demands on grandparents who take in a child later in life. "Because as an older adult who thought they were going to retire, you're doing two jobs," Rogers said. "You're still trying to navigate your own health, your own decisions and things that pertain to you. Then you've got to also look at this other person."

Rogers said children need steadiness more than a flawless caregiver. "Really, for a child, they just need consistency. You don't have to be a perfect caregiver. They just need to know that they matter," Rogers said. Cradduck said retired caregivers can offer more time than parents who both work. "Mentorship is what we're to do when we age," Cradduck said.

O'Rourke told caregivers to use the education and life experience they already have. "You've already learned. You've already gotten educated. So use that, use what you have," O'Rourke said. Resources named in the discussion include librarians, teachers, tutors, school counselors and parent liaisons.