This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: As Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's population ages at one of the fastest rates in the world, demand for family elder care increases daily. To understand the responsibilities and roles assumed by grandchildren in caring for their grandparents, the Asia-Pacific Institute of Aging Studies (APIAS) at Lingnan University conducted an in-depth interview study.
It found that having been looked after by grandparents in childhood is a major reason why grandchildren are willing to take on these same responsibilities for their own grandparents. Another key motivation is the desire to alleviate their parents' burden. However, the study highlights a common dilemma faced by grandchildren acting as caregivers: a lack of nursing knowledge and skills.
Also, as more families employ foreign domestic helpers for child care, this shift in caregiving models may weaken the traditional role of grandparents, which could in turn affect the long-term intergenerational elder care support network. The findings have been published in the International Journal of Social Welfare. Led by Lingnan University, the research team recruited 40 grandchildren ages 15 to 63 who had previously cared for or were currently caring for ailing or disabled grandparents.
The participants were recruited through social welfare organizations and school referrals for in-depth interviews conducted between April and December 2023. Those they cared for suffered from conditions such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia, limited mobility or hearing impairment, and more than half were 85 or older. From detailed interviews, the research team identified four main motivations for grandchildren to care for their grandparents: For example, a 21-year-old university student cares for both her grandfather, who suffers from cancer and dementia, and her grandmother, who has a disability.
She said that her grandparents had looked after her while her parents were at work and that, as a university student, she could flexibly arrange her time to look after them. Another respondent, a 16-year-old secondary school student, helps care for her maternal grandmother, who suffers from degenerative leg conditions, mobility issues and dizziness. She pointed out that, as both her parents work full time and her younger sister is still in primary school and cannot take on caregiving responsibilities, she is the only one with time to help.
However, the study specifically notes that more than 300,000 households in Hong Kong employ foreign domestic helpers for housework and child care. This shift in family care models may reduce the traditional participation of grandparents in caring for grandchildren. The study raises concerns about how this shift in caregiving dynamics may affect grandparent-grandchild relationships and future intergenerational elder care.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
