Grandparents Day 2007: Sept. 9
Grandparents Day was the brainchild of Marian
McQuade of Fayette County, W.Va., who hoped that such an observance might
persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage of their grandparents.
The first presidential proclamation was issued in
1978 — and one has been issued each year since — designating the first Sunday
after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day.
In honor of our nation’s grandparents, the Census
Bureau presents an array of data about these unsung role models and caregivers.
5.7 million: The number of grandparents whose
grandchildren younger than 18 live with them.
Grandparents as Caregivers
2.5 million: The number of
grandparents responsible for most of the basic needs (i.e., food, shelter,
clothing) of one or more of the grandchildren who live with them. These
grandparents represent about 43 percent of all grandparents whose grandchildren
live with them. Of these caregivers, 1.5 million are grandmothers, and 915,000
are grandfathers.
1.7 million: The number of
grandparent-caregivers who are married.
1.4 million: The number of
grandparents who are in the labor force and also responsible for most of the
basic needs of their grandchildren.
912,000: Number of grandparents
responsible for caring for their grandchildren for at least the past five
years.
496,000: Number of
grandparents whose income is below the poverty level and who are caring for
their grandchildren.
753,000: Number of
grandparents with a disability who are caring for their grandchildren.
545,000: Number of
grandparents who speak a language other than English and who are responsible
for caring for their grandchildren. Of this number, 217,000 speak English very
well.
40,359: Median income for
families with grandparent-caregiver householders. If a parent of the
grandchildren was not present, the median dropped to $30,246.
73%: Percentage of
grandparents who care for their grandchildren and who live in an owner-occupied
home.
28%: Among preschoolers with
employed mothers, the percentage regularly cared for by their grandparent
during the hours their mom works.
Grandchildren
5.7 million: The number of
children living with a grandparent; these children comprise 8 percent of all
children in the United States. The majority of these children, 3.7 million,
live in the grandparent’s home.
2.1 million: The number of
children who live with both a grandmother and a grandfather.