PROFILES OF GRANDMOTHERS WHO HELP CARE FOR THEIR GRANDCHILDREN IN THEUNITED-STATES

This study examines the characteristics of grandmothers who help provi de care for their grandchildren, using data from a nationally represen tative sample (N = 2,095). Overall, 43% of grandmothers helped provide care for their grandchildren on a regular basis. Grandmothers' age, l iving arrangements, number of children, number of grandchildren, educa tion and health were associated with the likelihood of caregiving. Clu ster analyses were conducted to identify a typology of grandmothers. T his typology was based on caregiving, social roles, demographic charac teristics, and well-being of the grandmothers. Four types of grandmoth ers were identified. ''Homemaker'' grandmothers (19%) and ''young-and- connected'' grandmothers (23%) helped provide care for their grandchil dren. ''Remote'' grandmothers (32%) and ''frail'' grandmothers (26%) d id not provide care. Caregiving did not pi-event the grandmothers from assuming other roles within and outside the family.