Grandchildren Caregiving: Elderly Support for the Family (A Case Study in Some International Migrant Sending Areas in West Java)

Type Journal Article - Journal of Population Ageing
Title Grandchildren Caregiving: Elderly Support for the Family (A Case Study in Some International Migrant Sending Areas in West Java)
Author(s)
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2015
Page numbers 1-16
URL http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12062-015-9118-y
Abstract
As their abilities continue to deteriorate, most senior citizens are assumed to need expansion in the caring for them. However, previous studies found that instead of being care recipients, many elderly actually provided support for their families. Specifically in migrant worker source areas, the main support that is usually provided by the elderly is the care for grandchildren who are left behind by their migrant parents. A study in two migrant worker villages in Indramayu district, West Java province, revealed that senior citizens were the main caregivers in one-fourth of households with at least one left behind child that were interviewed in the study. Although the elderly were never asked about their willingness to take over the chore, they accepted it readily and saw it as their contribution in rearing the grandchildren. Some elderly encountered several problems while caring for the grandchildren, mainly the financial matters and the disciplining of grandchildren.

Related studies

»