Lerner Center for Public Health Promotion and Population Health

Population Health Research Brief Series

Grandparents in the U.S. are Providing More Support to Their Grandchildren Now Than in the Past

Hyeonji Cho

March 2025

Lerner Center Population Health Research Brief Series

Abstract

Grandparents in the U.S. provide extensive support to their children and grandchildren, in the form of both financial assistance and childcare. But recent demographic changes (e.g., later childbirth, population aging) have postponed and extended the duration of grandparenthood, raising questions about whether these changes affect how grandparents support their grandchildren.

This data slice examines the changes between 2002 and 2022 in grandparent support to grandchildren in the U.S. The author finds that while grandparents across all age groups are providing more support to their grandchildren now than in the past, the increase has been especially pronounced among grandparents ages 75-84.

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