Journal of European Social Policy, 21(3), July 2011, pp.210-224.
Publisher:
Sage
As a result of demographic changes and increased life expectancy in industrialised countries, grandparenthood and has become a longer phase in the life of many older people. Grandparents also help their children by looking after their grandchildren and are an important service provider in childcare, particularly for mothers active in the labour market. This research examined the occurrence of all grandparent/child pairs. However, there were substantial differences between countries: in northern and central European countries (such as Sweden, Denmark, France and the Netherlands) more grandparents help than in southern countries (such as Italy and Spain), while in southern countries grandparents help much more intensively than in northern and central European countries. The researchers found that country specific differences were associated with public investment in childcare infrastructure, and that strong welfare state arrangements motivate grandparents to engage in childcare, with family and state complementing one another where grandparents take over sporadic, less time intensive care while public institutions provide regular, time-consuming childcare services.
As a result of demographic changes and increased life expectancy in industrialised countries, grandparenthood and has become a longer phase in the life of many older people. Grandparents also help their children by looking after their grandchildren and are an important service provider in childcare, particularly for mothers active in the labour market. This research examined the occurrence and intensity of grandchild care in Europe and factors influencing a decision to engage in this form of intergenerational support. It used data from the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe (SHARE), covering Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The analyses showed that, overall, help with grandchild care is provided in over 50% of all grandparent/child pairs. However, there were substantial differences between countries: in northern and central European countries (such as Sweden, Denmark, France and the Netherlands) more grandparents help than in southern countries (such as Italy and Spain), while in southern countries grandparents help much more intensively than in northern and central European countries. The researchers found that country specific differences were associated with public investment in childcare infrastructure, and that strong welfare state arrangements motivate grandparents to engage in childcare, with family and state complementing one another where grandparents take over sporadic, less time intensive care while public institutions provide regular, time-consuming childcare services.
Subject terms:
intergenerational relationships, welfare state, child care, children, families, grandparents;
Looks at recent socio-demographic changes in France which are beginning to challenge some of France's key legal and social policy measures concerning the family and the role that middle-age adults have in supporting other family members. In particular they raise issues that touch on the motives for family support and how the State intervenes in family life.
Looks at recent socio-demographic changes in France which are beginning to challenge some of France's key legal and social policy measures concerning the family and the role that middle-age adults have in supporting other family members. In particular they raise issues that touch on the motives for family support and how the State intervenes in family life.
Subject terms:
social policy, adults, child care, demographics, families, grandparents;
Ageing and Society, 24(2), March 2004, pp.189-212.
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press
Uses qualitative data from a cross-national study of ‘cash for care’ schemes in five European countries (Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) to consider the concepts of empowerment and independence in relation to both care-users and care-givers. Locates the schemes along two axes, one of regulation/non-regulation, the other whether relatives can be paid or not. Each of the schemes has a different impact both on the care relationship and on the labour market for care. In the Netherlands where relatives can be paid, for example, a fully commodified form of informal care emerges; but in Austria and Italy with low regulation, a mix of informal and formal care-givers/workers has emerged with many international migrant workers. In the UK, direct payments allow care-users to employ local care-workers who deliver care for various lengths of time; while in France a credentialised system means that care-work is delivered by qualified workers but for very short intervals. Concludes that none of these schemes have a simple outcome or advantage, and that the contexts in which they occur and the nature of their regulation has to be understood before drawing conclusions about their impact on empowerment and independence on both sides of the care relationship.
Uses qualitative data from a cross-national study of ‘cash for care’ schemes in five European countries (Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom) to consider the concepts of empowerment and independence in relation to both care-users and care-givers. Locates the schemes along two axes, one of regulation/non-regulation, the other whether relatives can be paid or not. Each of the schemes has a different impact both on the care relationship and on the labour market for care. In the Netherlands where relatives can be paid, for example, a fully commodified form of informal care emerges; but in Austria and Italy with low regulation, a mix of informal and formal care-givers/workers has emerged with many international migrant workers. In the UK, direct payments allow care-users to employ local care-workers who deliver care for various lengths of time; while in France a credentialised system means that care-work is delivered by qualified workers but for very short intervals. Concludes that none of these schemes have a simple outcome or advantage, and that the contexts in which they occur and the nature of their regulation has to be understood before drawing conclusions about their impact on empowerment and independence on both sides of the care relationship.
Subject terms:
income support, independence, informal care, older people, ageing, carers, comparative studies, direct payments, empowerment, grandparents;
Location(s):
Austria, France, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom
European Journal of Social Work, 4(2), July 2001, pp.173-183.
Publisher:
Taylor and Francis
In the context of HIV infection, the disappearance or inability to assume their parental role of one or both parents has focused attention on the generation of grandparents who are responsible for the offspring. It is only when they are unable or no longer able to do so that uncles or aunts, or even to a lesser extent friends, take on this role. The Aide Sociale à l'Enfance ASE (Child Welfare
In the context of HIV infection, the disappearance or inability to assume their parental role of one or both parents has focused attention on the generation of grandparents who are responsible for the offspring. It is only when they are unable or no longer able to do so that uncles or aunts, or even to a lesser extent friends, take on this role. The Aide Sociale à l'Enfance ASE (Child Welfare Authorities) step in as a last resort when there is no kinship option. However, the environmental vulnerability of these families and their psychosocial risk factors, which preceded the advent of HIV, are often behind the children's admission to ASE care. Analysis of the interviews carried out on 36 family members and 20 professional foster families records their involvement on a day-to-day basis with the children, for the most part HIV- infected. Highlights the constraints and difficulties involved in what is an extreme form of family solidarity, compared with the structured support of institutional care, which in turn has its own limitations.
Subject terms:
HIV AIDS, placement, residential care, risk, children, families, foster care, foster carers, grandparents;