EXPERIENCES OF GRANDMOTHERS LOOKING AFTER GRANDCHILDREN EXHIBITING DELINQUENT BEHAVIOURS IN HILL CREST LOCATION, ALICE TOWNSHIP, EASTERN CAPE: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK

Older persons face an array of challenges with regard to parenting a delinquent grandchild. The study adopted qualitative approach the use explorative and descriptive design, data collected from in-depth interviews grandparents, communities probation officers. also phenomenology as specific research approach. Findings revealed that grandparents their grandchildren pernicious experiences grandchildren’s delinquency; financial poverty; deterioration health social life. This paper recommends government prioritise grandparents’ vulnerability address delinquency ensure they are freed such preoccupation. Policies should be developed above age 60 years not assume full custody children, vulnerable population. Keywords: aging, child welfare system, delinquency, entropic disorder, moral decadence