HI. I am 57, almost 58 and have been fostering since 2000. My husband and I adopted a 9 year old and a 14 year old in May of this year. But in fostering, we have parented children from 2-16. We also adopted our first foster child after she was 16, which is a whole different animal.
I call parents over 50 "Beyonders" because at conferences, when they do the demographics, they always ask how many are fifty and beyond. I call myself the Queen of the Beyonders.
Things
are different when you are older. So many times older parents have health issues of their own, and have suffered loss in their lives ( added to the issue of loss the kids bring into the family.)
We also have less stamina and--admit it or not--menopause with its related symptoms plays into the mix.
I surfed the web and discovered there was little out there by way of support for older parents. ( from 1970 to 1990 the number of GRANDPARENTS raising their grandkids jumped by 70%!) and I started a website devoted to support for older parents/foster parents/ grandparents. The site features humor, resources for nutrition and other info as well as games and stories.
It is called THE BEYONDER COURT. URL
http://beyonderqueen.tripod.com/
My daughter just had another child--she is 35. But a woman I heard about on the news gave birth at 66, so who's to say what an older parent is? Older than what? Anyway, good luck, and--come by the "Court."