A new study from the AARP challenges some of the things you might think about today’s Grandparents. Families are depending on Grandparents more these days, and thankfully these Grandparents are more likely to be accepting of LGBTQ grandchildren.
Since 2001, the number of grandparents has grown by 24 percent (56 million to 70 million). The age of a first-time grandparent is 50, a two year increase since the survey was last conducted in 2011.
Grandparents are contributing now more than ever to the well being of their grandchildren. Grandparents take care of their grandchildren by babysitting, with one in ten living in the same household with their grandchildren, and 5 percent of those being the primary caregiver. Grandparents are also contributing financially, spending an average of $2,562 annually on their grandchildren, totaling $179 billion per year.
It is good to know that while families depend more and more on Grandparents for support, Grandparents are also becoming increasingly supportive of their LGBTQ grandchildren. Eighty-Seven percent of the grandparents surveyed report that they would be accepting of an LGBTQ grandchild.