“My second mum and dad” - Grandparents Plus

Chapter 2 references
2.1 Broad, 2007
2.2 Dench and Ogg, 2002
2.3 Dench and Ogg, 2002
2.4 Dunning, 2006
2.5 Dench and Ogg, 2002
2.6 Grandparents Plus, 2009b
2.7 Grandparents Plus, 2009b
2.8 Grandparents Plus, 2009b
2.9 Harper, 2003; Townsend, 1957
2.10 Dunning, 2006
2.11 Clarke and Roberts, 2003
2.12 Dominy and Kempson, 2006
Grandparent well-being and the factors impacting on this
Age, as might be expected, was highly significantly correlated with health in
all grandparents. Older grandparents were likely to have poorer health.
It was interesting that grandparents who lived in their own homes, and who were
presumably better off, were generally more likely to have better health. There is
considerable evidence that older people living in poverty have poorer health care 2.12 .
Linked to this, perhaps because they had been able to earn more in their working
lives, better educated grandmothers, that is those who continued education beyond
compulsorary age, also had better health. These grandmothers were also more
likely to own their own house. Marital status also impacted on house ownership.
Grandparents who were still married (not separated or divorced) were more likely
to own their home as opposed to living in rental accommodation.
Maternal Grandmothers living close to their grandchildren, in the same town or
within ten miles, were significantly more likely to have better health but this did
not apply to grandfathers. It may be, for Mum’s mum, that contact with the
grandchildren contributed to their better health.
Those grandparents who were still working, were, as might be expected, in
better health.
Marital status affected the different grandparents in different ways. For Mum’s Dad,
by far the strongest factor to impact on his health was his marital status. Maternal
grandfathers who were married were significantly more likely to be in better health.
Surprisingly this did not impact to the same extent on grandmothers.
My second mum and dad / 9