AARP &YOU
Grandparents and grandkids keep the conversation going every way they can Generation Gab
AARP called grand-
parents nationwide in a
recent phone survey—
and it’s a wonder we
could reach them at all.
More than 80 percent of
grandparents are on the
phone at least monthly
with their grandchil-
dren, and a third of them
e-mail, text, or Skype.
They don’t bypass the
sandwich generation
either; 84 percent chat
with their own children
at least monthly about
the grandkids. They’re
motivated not by a sense
of duty—though almost
90 percent say they play
an important role in
their grandchildren’s
lives—but by deep
affection. When people
were asked how they felt
about being grandpar-
ents, the most frequently
cited emotion was joy.
—Holly Zimmerman
Overall health/Obesity
Smoking cigarettes
Illegal drugs/Alcohol
61 %
54%
50%
Morals/Values
Religion/Spirituality
News/Current events
Other problems
78%
66%
65%
61
BY PERCENTAGE REPORTED
College/Career plans
Peer pressure/Bullying
Staying safe
53%
72%
73%
OF GRANDPARENTS
HAVE 10 OR MORE
GRANDCHILDREN
