This paper presents the results of a scientific research on the organization of psychological assistance to the relatives of the third age during the stay with a child with a chronic illness in the hospital. Purpose of the study: learning personal characteristics of third age relatives involved in raising a child with a chronic illness to determine means of psychological support to optimize the social situation of development. The total N. = 50 persons aged from 55 to 65 years. Study outcome: As a result of the content analysis of the respondents’ statements, they were divided into 76 complete lexical units, which according to their psychological content were combined into meaningful categories, reflecting the relationship between the immediate family members of third age and the grandchild and the perception of a particular disease. Two types of attitudes of immediate family members of third age in the situation of a long-term chronic illness of a kid were found and statistically confirmed: problem- oriented and emotionally-oriented. The new scientific data obtained contribute to the definition of the main targets of differentiated psychological help to the third age relatives in the situation of caring for a child with a severe chronic illness.

Peculiarities of Mental State of Third Age Relatives When Caring for Kids with Severe Long-Term Illness