Many of our friends aged well over 70 years have grandchildren. These grandparents are often called upon to babysit and care for their young grandchildren.

One person we know makes several long trips across London every week to care for her small grandchildren. Another travels from Durham to London to carry out the task. Yet others fly over to London from India and South Africa to provide a few weeks or days of babysitting.

Some of these grandparents are in their 80s and not in the best of health.

QUESTION:

Who is the most vulnerable – the grandparents or the grandchildren?

I believe it is the elder grandparents. If one of these unpaid carers is suddenly taken ill or has a bad fall while caring for their grandchildren, the consequences might well be awful.

PS some of these grandparents are looking after the children of parents who can well afford to pay for proper carers.