As economic pressures mount and the cracks in formal childcare systems widen, a new wave of research and firsthand testimony draws attention to a silent but critical force sustaining families across generations—grandparents acting as unpaid caregivers. Recent reflections published in The Guardian highlight the dual drivers of love and necessity behind this trend, with grandparents stepping in not only to enrich their grandchildren’s lives, but simply to help families keep pace with work and rising living costs The Guardian.
For Thai readers, this story resonates profoundly. Multi-generational households and the practice of grandparents caring for grandchildren is woven deep into the fabric of Thai society, rooted in longstanding cultural obligations and social norms. Yet, the new research and candid accounts from the UK and elsewhere make clear that while the tradition is cherished, it now often operates under greater strain—resulting from insufficient childcare policies, rising longevity, and increasingly complex family structure.
The significance of this shift cannot be understated, especially in light of Thailand’s own demographic changes. Data from studies in Thailand show that many grandparents step into the role of primary caregivers, particularly in “skipped generation” households, where parents migrate for work or in cases of family crisis. Research published in Ageing & Society confirms that “it is an obligation and still is a cultural norm of Thailand for older relatives to help raise the younger ones” Ageing and Society.
While this familial safety net helps plug the growing gaps left by state welfare and market-driven childcare, it also presents profound challenges. According to a 2018 analysis in Social Science & Medicine, regular care for grandchildren in Thailand is associated with negative health outcomes for older adults, and the impact depends heavily on individual and household context ScienceDirect. Fatigue, depression, and the loss of economic and personal freedom are common burdens, particularly for full-time grandparent carers.
Globally, the trend of grandparent-provided care is rising—not just in low- and middle-income countries but in the West, as recorded in recent news and studies from the US and the UK HuffPost. Analysts point out that as Western societies age, more families rely on grandparents to fill the growing daycare gap caused by soaring childcare costs and inflexible work schedules. Meanwhile, changes in family size, with fewer siblings, more single parents, and increased migration for work, intensify the caregiving load for the older generation.
Recent PubMed research echoes this, examining the “critical buffer” that nurturing care provides against external stressors such as climate change, social disruption, and poverty. In this context, grandparents are often the first line of defense, providing not just love but also stability, structure, and a sense of continuity as other supports fall away. However, the same studies caution that without renewed recognition and tangible support—both policy and emotional—the system is at risk of collapse, with long-term consequences for children’s development and caregivers’ well-being.
In Thailand, skipped generation households reflect both cultural resilience and vulnerability. Reports from rural areas note the profound emotional and mental health impacts on both generations, especially where public support is minimal or non-existent Wiley, 2024. A 2024 feasibility study found that programs to support grandparent caregivers are both feasible and well-received, indicating a promising direction for future policy PMC.
Beyond the immediate family, the effects ripple through communities. As one psychotherapist, quoted in the Guardian letter, observes: “Care is the connective tissue that keeps communities alive. If we fail to recognise and support it, we weaken the very systems we’ll need to face what’s coming.” Exhaustion, loss of retirement opportunities, and the unique grief of “missing out on just being Granny” are common themes among full-time caregivers, signaling the invisible costs of care that fall disproportionately on older women.
For Thai families, these challenges have historical context—and present new demands. Traditionally, the extended family has functioned as both social and economic insurance. But as Thailand modernizes and urbanizes, population aging accelerates, and birth rates fall below replacement level, these patterns face unprecedented pressure. Some Thai policymakers and academics have called for greater state recognition of kinship care arrangements, increased financial support for grandparent carers, and the development of community-based childcare programs that ease the burden on aging relatives IJMRAP.
Nevertheless, government policy remains patchy. While the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security has acknowledged the value of family-based care, support for grandparent caregivers often falls short compared with the scale of the need. Small-scale programs exist, yet lack uniform coverage. The absence of a comprehensive child and eldercare strategy leaves too many families improvising week by week.
Contrast this with critiques emerging in Western policy debates. Some politicians in the US have proposed that grandparents can “solve” the childcare crisis. Experts have rebutted these views as “naïve, aloof, and divorced from reality… classist, ableist and exploitative at worst” Salon, urging instead that state and employers take on greater responsibility for affordable and flexible childcare.
For Thailand, the lessons are clear: recognizing the limits of private family resources is crucial. As more older adults find their “retirement” consumed by care duties, their physical and mental health, social participation, and economic security are jeopardized. A 2017 study of grandparent caregivers in Thailand warns that “the alternative forms of care for our grandchildren continue to have persistent deficits that lead to very poor life chances,” indicating that the burden on grandparents is both a symptom and a cause of deeper social vulnerability Ageing and Society.
Yet, the benefits are real and profound. Multiple studies underscore the positive influence of close grandparent-grandchild relationships, from improved childhood development and school performance to greater resilience and emotional security during family crises AOL. Culturally, grandparent involvement in childcare maintains intergenerational ties, social cohesion, and the passing down of language, values, and identity.
As Thai society faces rapid aging, declining family size, and a shifting labor market, practical solutions are urgently required. Policymakers should prioritize:
- Expanding formal government support for kinship caregivers, including stipends, respite services, and health care support
- Developing community child care centers that work in tandem with family caregivers
- Providing targeted mental health services for older carers
- Incorporating the insights of caregivers themselves into policymaking, avoiding one-size-fits-all solutions
On a household level, families can support grandparents by ensuring open communication about caregiving roles, rotating responsibilities across extended family networks where possible, and acknowledging the sacrifices made. Employers can help by introducing family-friendly policies and flexibility for younger family members to participate in care.
Finally, Thai society as a whole must reckon with the true value of care work—honoring not only its visible economic output but its invisible emotional and social labor. As the experience shared in The Guardian so poignantly concludes, “Everyone who has parents who are involved in their grandchildren’s lives are the luckiest people—I hope they know that.”
Further research and public discussion—grounded in real experiences across generations—are vital. Without this, there is a risk of leaving grandparents and grandchildren isolated, overwhelmed, and unsupported, undermining the resilience of families and communities at the heart of Thai society.
For Thai readers, the message is clear: cherish and strengthen intergenerational bonds, advocate for policy change, and recognize that both the love and the necessity underpinning grandparent care deserve not just admiration but action.
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