Grandparents raising grandchildren: Impacts of lifecourse stage on the experiences and costs of care

Grandparents who have primary responsibility for raising their grandchildren are increasingly on research and social policy agendas in Australia and elsewhere. Little is known, however, about the diversity in circumstances and experiences among grandparents in these caring relationships, and assumptions about the homogeneity of grandparents are often embedded in policy prescriptions and academic discourse. This paper explores the experiences and circumstances of grandparent carers at different ages and lifecourse stages, focusing on income, employment, housing, health, and social relationships. The analysis also considers the gendered nature of grandparent care, which is predominantly carried out by women. Findings are derived from an Australia‑wide survey of 335 grandparent carers. The analysis distinguishes between younger (under 55 years), middle‑aged (55-64) and older grandparents (65 and over) in order to explore differences and similarities in the interconnections of age and care. The article contributes to an age‑sensitive theory of care and to considerations of social policies that recognise the costs to grandparents of raising their grandchildren at different ages and lifecourse stages.