Aim of the study:
The foster care system is currently dominated by kinship foster families, who provide long-term care until the child reaches independence. In the case of kinship care, there is always a biological family relationship, and the role of carers is taken on by grandparents or older siblings. An analysis of personality traits, dominant personal values and the sense of coherence of people aged 60+ providing kinship foster care for their grandchildren as well as an examination of the relationship between the above-mentioned components and depression.

Subject or material and methods:
The study was conducted in 2018-2019 in north-western Poland. It was addressed to 189 kinship foster carers aged 60+. Consent to participate was obtained from 78 carers, i.e. 41.27% of those eligible for the study. The study was conducted using the diagnostic survey method. Psychosocial, functional and health problems were identified using standardized scales and self-constructed questionnaires.

Results:
The levels of manageability and meaningfulness were dependent on the carers’ housing conditions. The carers’ sense of comprehensibility was reduced by their emotional concerns. The study showed that 7.9% of respondents had a moderate level of depression, the remaining ones were within the normal range.

Discussion:
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Conclusions:
The sense of coherence and personal values of foster carers aged 60+ are determined by their housing conditions and good health. Action taken in this area by social services might improve the quality and comfort of care provided by biological grandparents to their grandchildren in the form of foster care.