Intergenerational Cooperation

Intergenerational cooperation and collaboration can improve the lives of older and younger Americans. The growing number of older people is a rich bank of human capital. If utilized, it can be a great asset to younger people (see also Civic Engagement and Volunteer Service). Similarly, younger people have talents and skills that can benefit older adults.

Older people also have a unique role as potential caregivers for their grandchildren. Many grandparents are key providers of care. And they can be a stabilizing force for children whose parents have divorced, become incapacitated, or died. Nearly three million children in the U.S. are being raised by a grandparent. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, the number of grandparents raising their grandchildren increased by 16 percent over a decade, from 2.5 million in 2005 to 2.9 million in 2015. This is partly due to the opioid crisis that has left some parents unable to care for their children. According to the 2015 American Community Survey, approximately 2.6 million grandparents are financially responsible for meeting their grandchildren’s basic needs.

One area of particular concern to older adults is their legal authority as grandparents. Many grandparents have total responsibility for raising their grandchildren. However, unless they have been appointed guardians, they generally do not have the legal authority necessary to provide care. For example, they may not be able to enroll a child in school, obtain medical treatment for the child, or petition for visitation rights (see also Assistance for Grandparents and Other Relatives Raising Children).