(The Center Square) – A growing number of families across the commonwealth fall into the category of skipped-generation families in which grandparents care for grandchildren.

Research from the American Society on Aging indicates that the arrangement leads to increased stress for caretakers and unique challenges for children.

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging is stepping up to relieve part of that burden with support for grandparents raising grandchildren. The agency has funded the statewide expansion of a free phone line providing assistance to the 83,000 kinship caregivers they say are caring for 26,000 children.

“While supporting their adult child with a substance use disorder, coping with an unfortunate death or other circumstances they could not predict, grandparents in this position are often faced with suddenly having to navigate unfamiliar systems,” said Department of Aging Secretary Jason Kavulich.

The PA Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Legal Line will offer “legal information, advice and referrals as well as services for older caregivers who need support in custody or other legal areas involving kinship care.”

The SeniorLAW center providing services began as a resource for those in the Philadelphia region. The organization offers “free advice and counsel on a variety of civil matters, including custody and dependency; support in representing themselves in family court, such as help with preparing necessary documents; information on kinship caregivers, support groups, and other resources.”

“The law affects all of our lives dramatically, but particularly those who are low-income, vulnerable, or older,” said Karen Buck, Executive Director, SeniorLAW Center. “It is a privilege to pursue our mission of justice for older Pennsylvanians, upon whose shoulders we all stand.”

The court system many families inadvertently enter when a parent dies, is incarcerated, or otherwise unable to care for their children can be costly and confusing. The legal aspects fall on top of a living situation the American Society on Aging says can produce emotional and behavioral problems, developmental delays, and physical health impacts.

On the caregiver side, navigating the legal system compounds a host of other challenges older Pennsylvanians face.

“Older Pennsylvanians are often among our most vulnerable citizens, and it is our responsibility to ensure they have access to justice and protections against abuse, neglect, and financial exploitation,” said Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Debra Todd. “Through the work of the Office of Elder Justice in the Courts and our Advisory Council, we are taking meaningful steps to safeguard older adults and strengthen support systems statewide.”

The state’s efforts to support caregivers extend beyond aging Pennsylvanians, including other kinship networks caring for children. Its Caregiver Support Program works with both those caring for children and adults, offering financial reimbursement, respite care, and support services. Training materials and resources have been compiled in the PA CareKit available to anyone online. The Pennsylvania KinConnector is another call line providing resources to those caring for children.