Australian Seniors Network
AUSTRALIAN grandparents are providing more childcare, financial support and emotional stability than ever before, but many are paying a significant personal price as cost-of-living pressures ripple across generations.
New research has revealed seven in 10 grandparents aged over 50 actively support their families, with more than half providing financial help to their children or grandchildren.
The Australian Seniors Grandparents Report 2026, based on a survey of more than 4200 grandparents, paints a picture of a generation whose role has expanded well beyond occasional babysitting and birthday visits.
Today’s grandparents are increasingly acting as regular carers, emergency contacts, financial safety nets and trusted sources of guidance, often while balancing work, retirement planning and their own health.
Almost one-third of those surveyed provide both regular care and financial assistance, while 52 per cent look after their grandchildren on an ongoing basis.
That care can include overnight stays, school events, emergency childcare and last-minute help when a child is sick.
For some, the commitment is substantial. While 39 per cent spend fewer than 10 hours a week caring for grandchildren, 14 per cent provide care on five or more days each week.
Despite the demands, almost half said they wished they could do even more.
The financial contribution of grandparents is also growing as younger families contend with rising housing, grocery, energy and childcare costs.
Just over half of grandparents provide money or material support to their adult children or grandchildren, spending an average of over $3000 each year.
Most said their support was driven by love and a desire to ease pressure on their families, with almost three-quarters stepping in without being asked.
However, that generosity is increasingly eating into the savings grandparents had set aside for themselves.
Among those providing financial support, 55 per cent had dipped into personal savings or retirement funds.
Nearly seven in 10 grandparents believe their role has changed compared with previous generations.
