OTTUMWA, IOWA -- You may want to save this important date; this Sunday is National Grandparent’s Day.
Those at Seneca Area Agency on Aging want you to take the time to recognize your grandparents.
There are many grandparents in southeast Iowa that are serving as the primary caretakers of their grandchildren which can take an extra toll on their health and stress levels.
Seneca staff told KTVO they hope to form a support group for those grandparents in the coming year.
“They have a unique situation and so we want to set up for them to feel this support from the aging community because sometimes you just feel like you're lost out there with their problems plus having also in the young children’s world,” said Joan Nydle, Seneca Family Caregiver Specialist.
Seneca will also be sponsoring, along with the Iowa Department on Aging, a forum at the Honey Creek Resort on Monday, Sept. 24.
The free forum will cover such topics as financial and consumer fraud and the Iowa Department on Aging will be discussing elder rights.
Caregivers are also encouraged to attend.
“We definitely want them to come so they know what their elder rights would be for their care -- for who they’re taking care of and especially with the Department of Aging with the director there giving insight of where we're heading for elderly,” said Nydle.
Last year’s forum brought in more than 300 people. Nydle said there are limited spots so to contact your local meal site before Sept. 17 to sign up.