A Look at Today’s Grandparents and Why We Love Them

Whether they go by the traditional Grandpa or Grammy, or something more trendy like Gigi or Popci, becoming a grandparent is a joyful milestone for many older adults.

The American Grandparents Association says that 43% of grandparents move into the role in their 50s, while 37% get started in their 40s. In fact, you might be surprised to hear the average age of American grandparents is 48!

From providing financial to emotional support to social interactions across the miles and down the street, grandparents are contributing in big and small ways – and they cherish the opportunity to do it all. An AARP survey says that 73% of grandparents enjoy their role and rate their performance as high (in 2011, that number was 63%).

Anyone Can Be a Grandparent

Before we talk more about all those contributions, let’s be clear: you don’t have to wait until your child has a child of their own to become a grandparent.

Adoptive grandparents are grandparents too. And even if you don’t have any children at all – biological or adopted – you can be an honorary grandparent.

You can step in for the young family next door who just moved 500 miles away from their extended family.

You can step in for the college students at church or the local food pantry where you volunteer, providing hugs or a listening ear or a home-cooked meal (no one's ever too old to love the sunshine, stories, and strength a grandparent role model offers).

If you enjoy the little ones, see if a local church, school, or daycare center needs part-time workers or volunteers. Love being a mentor to the younger generations? Consider becoming a foster grandparent through this AmeriCorps program.

Being a Grandparent Is Good for Your Health

One of the best things about grandparent relationships is that the benefits go both ways. Most kids – and kids at heart – love having a grandparent in their life just as much as grandparents love being in theirs, and this has increased life expectancy overall.

Modern grandparents now have the opportunity to build relationships for a longer time because of this boost in longevity. That means being a grandparent looks like everything from gaming together over a distance or sitting on the sidelines at soccer, to babysitting for Mom & Dad’s date night or serving as primary caregiver (about 32.7% of grandparents living with their grandchildren under the age of 18 were responsible for their care, says the US Census Bureau).

It might drain their time and bank accounts more than fill them, but value isn’t always measured in time or money:

• Among households 1 to 5 miles apart, Cornell researchers say, grandparents gave 186 hours of help and $800 of financial support on average, while receiving 104 hours and $500.

• According to a survey conducted by The Senior List, grandparents reported spending nearly $4,000 a year on their grandchildren, and 10% reported spending more than $10,000.

• Another finding from the same survey said 63% of grandparents make monetary sacrifices for the happiness of their grandchildren, while 26% opt to live more conservatively so they can help support their grandchildren.

Welcome to the New Generation of Grandparenting

Embracing culture, celebrating heritage, and accepting identities: in addition to living longer, and giving more time and treasure, today’s grandparents are rolling with societal changes while maintaining connections to their own family’s history.

According to AARP, one-third of grandparents surveyed have grandchildren of a different race or ethnicity than their own – and they believe that teaching an appreciation of their cultural backgrounds is a beautiful thing. In fact, 7 in 10 grandparents actively encourage the grandchildren who have a different heritage to learn about it.

Today’s grandparents are inclusive too: many are willing to embrace their grandchildren’s different sexualities, with a majority saying they’d support an LGBT grandchild – compared to grandparents of previous generations.

ArchWell Health loves grandparents

We understand you might be juggling caregiving for grandkids while caring for yourself. So next time you visit us, bring the grandkids along! Our ArchWell Health social workers would love to connect you to community resources and support for your grandparenting journey.

Read our article about Connecting with Grandkids Across the Miles for tips on keeping the relationship strong and growing despite the distance.