A study entitled "Double Dependency: Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren in Spain" shows that although the number of Spanish grandparents who care for their grandchildren is one in four—lower than the European average of one in three—Spanish grandparents do so more intensively, reaching 7 hours a day compared with the European average of 5.
Difficulties in the workplace and the lack of work-life and family/personal life balance programs appear to be the cause of this situation, which forces older people to care for their grandchildren in a "forced" manner, either because there is no other alternative or because of a sense of responsibility toward their children and grandchildren.
One of the major resources that is not widely used in our country is the possibility of part-time work, either indefinitely or seasonally. This measure also places Spain below the European average: while 31% of women in Europe work part-time, the figure falls to 22% in Spain. The same applies to men, for whom the figure drops from 7.3% in Europe to 4.1% in Spain.
Both Alares and the Alares Foundation have been working since their beginnings on projects involving work-life, family and personal life balance, because they believe in parents' right to enjoy time with their children and in older people's right to devote themselves to their grandchildren voluntarily. Ultimately, work-life balance means an increase in Quality of Life.
After becoming parents… it’s time to become grandparents!
A study entitled "Double Dependency: Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren in Spain" shows that although the number of Spanish grandparents who care for their grandchildren is one in four—lower than the European average of one in three—Spanish grandparents do so more intensively, reaching 7 hours a day compared with the European average of 5.
Difficulties in the workplace and the lack of work-life and family/personal life balance programs appear to be the cause of this situation, which forces older people to care for their grandchildren in a "forced" manner, either because there is no other alternative or because of a sense of responsibility toward their children and grandchildren.
One of the major resources that is not widely used in our country is the possibility of part-time work, either indefinitely or seasonally. This measure also places Spain below the European average: while 31% of women in Europe work part-time, the figure falls to 22% in Spain. The same applies to men, for whom the figure drops from 7.3% in Europe to 4.1% in Spain.
Both Alares and the Alares Foundation have been working since their beginnings on projects involving work-life, family and personal life balance, because they believe in parents' right to enjoy time with their children and in older people's right to devote themselves to their grandchildren voluntarily. Ultimately, work-life balance means an increase in Quality of Life.
