Current:Home > InvestFewer U.S. grandparents are taking care of grandchildren, according to new data-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Fewer U.S. grandparents are taking care of grandchildren, according to new data
lotradecoin deposit View Date:2024-12-26 03:32:17
Fewer grandparents were living with and taking care of grandchildren, there was a decline in young children going to preschool and more people stayed put in their homes in the first part of the 2020s compared to the last part of the 2010s, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday, reflecting some of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The latest figures from the most comprehensive survey of American life compares the years of 2014-2018 and 2019-2023, timeframes before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the virus’ spread. The American Community Survey data show how lives were changed and family relationships altered by the pandemic and other occurrences like the opioid crisis.
The survey of 3.5 million households covers more than 40 topics, including ancestry, fertility, marital status, commutes, veterans status, disability and housing.
The decrease in grandparents’ taking care of their grandchildren is most likely the result of a decline in opioid-related deaths during the more recent timeframe since substance abuse is a leading reasonthat grandparents find themselves raising grandchildren. A reduction in the number of incarcerated women also likely played a role, said Susan Kelley, a professor emerita of nursing at Georgia State University.
“It’s very rarely for positive reasons that grandparents find themselves in this situation. Usually, it’s a tragic situation in an adult child’s life, either a death, incarceration or mental health issues which correlate with substance abuse,” Kelly said. “Many grandparents thrive in that role, but there are still socioeconomic and emotional burdens on the grandparents.”
A stronger economy in the most recent period also may be a reason that the number of grandparents living with their grandchildren declined from 7.2 million to 6.8 million by making it less likely that adult children with their own children were seeking housing help from their parents, she said.
The decline in the number of young children enrolled in preschool stemmed from an unwillingness to send young children to school and the closure of many schools at the height of the pandemic, according to the Census Bureau.
“These data show how the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on patterns of early childhood education,” the bureau said in a separate report. “Future research will show if this was the start of a long-term trend or if enrollment will bounce back to prior levels.”
Americans continued to get older, with the median age rising to 38.7 from 37.9 and the nation’s share of senior citizens up from 16.8% from 15.2%. The share of households with a computer jumped to almost 95% from almost 89%, as did the share of households with a broadband connection to almost 90% from 80%.
Additionally, fewer people moved and more people stayed put in the most recent time period compared to the earlier one, in many cases because of rising home values and the limited availability of homes to buy.
Home values increased by 21.7% and the percentage of vacant homes dropped from 12.2% to 10.4%. The median home value jumped from $249,400 to $303,400 nationwide.
In some vacation communities popular with the wealthy, the bump was even more dramatic, such as in the county that is home to Aspen, Colorado, where it went from $758,800 to $1.1 million, and in the county which is home to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, where it jumped from $812,400 to $1.1 million.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform X: @MikeSchneiderAP.
Disclaimer: The copyright of this article belongs to the original author. Reposting this article is solely for the purpose of information dissemination and does not constitute any investment advice. If there is any infringement, please contact us immediately. We will make corrections or deletions as necessary. Thank you.
veryGood! (8937)
Related
- Usher Cancels Atlanta Concert Hours Before Show to Rest and Heal
- Vermont governor urges residents to report flood damage to the state for FEMA determination
- Why pasta salad isn't always healthy, even with all those vegetables
- Video shows woman's scarily close encounter with grizzly. She says she'd still 'choose the bear.'
- These six House races are ones to watch in this year’s election
- Thousands of Philadelphia city workers are back in the office full time after judge rejects lawsuit
- AT&T says nearly all of its cell customers' call and text records were exposed in massive breach
- Ex-TV host Carlos Watson convicted in trial over collapse of startup Ozy Media
- Pro-Palestinian protesters who blocked road near Sea-Tac Airport to have charges dropped
- Powerball winning numbers for July 15 drawing; jackpot rises to $64 million
Ranking
- Detroit judge orders sleepy teenage girl on field trip to be handcuffed, threatens jail
- Miranda Lambert Stops Concert Again to Call Out Fans Causing Drama
- Natalie Portman got an ego boost from Rihanna post-Benjamin Millepied divorce
- 'Clock is ticking': Texas Gov. Abbott gives utility company deadline to fix power outages
- Video shows 2 toddlers in diapers, distraught in the middle of Texas highway after crash
- Will Ferrell Shares the Criticism He Got From Elf Costar James Caan
- Carlos Alcaraz beats Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon men's final to win fourth Grand Slam title
- Federal jury returns for third day of deliberations at bribery trial of Sen. Bob Menendez
Recommendation
-
Bristol Palin Shares 15-Year-Old Son Tripp Has Moved Back to Alaska
-
Gareth Southgate resigns as England manager after Euro 2024 final loss
-
President of Dickinson State University in North Dakota resigns after nursing faculty quit
-
James Webb telescope photos show the Penguin and Egg galaxies in greater detail
-
Rob Schneider seeks forgiveness from daughter Elle King after 'fat camp' claims
-
Texas man who's sought DNA testing to prove his innocence slated for execution in 1998 stabbing death of woman, 85
-
Rite Aid closing dozens of additional stores. Here's where.
-
Ingrid Andress Checking Into Rehab After Drunk National Anthem Performance at Home Run Derby