Grandparents Day: Sunday September 11

By Edwin Walker, Acting Assistant Secretary for Aging and Acting Administrator, ACL

September 11 is National Grandparents Day. Since 1978, the first Sunday after Labor Day has been designated as a day to pay tribute to our nation’s grandparents. Grandparents are our important connections to the past and they help to lay the groundwork for our futures.

Like many Americans today, I too experienced first-hand the love, wisdom and caring that can only come from a grandparent. I was raised in part by my grandmother who instilled values and principles that I live by today. There is nothing that can compare to the cherished relationship that can exist between a grandparent and a grandchild.

Not only do grandparents play an important role within their families, sometimes they may find themselves back in the role of parent raising children due to unfortunate events. For many grandparents, stepping into a parental role again, means confronting new and different challenges than those they faced when they raised their own children. The Administration on Aging’s National Family Caregiver Support Program (NFCSP) provides support for grandparents who are raising their young grandchildren. The program enables the Aging Network to address the unique needs of grandparents who step in to provide care for their grandchildren.  To read more, click here.

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Grandparents Day: Sunday September 11