Grandmother, 72, delays retirement to support adult children and grandchildren
1 source↑ Market-relevant
IN SHORT
Joann Ernst, 72, is delaying retirement to financially and practically support her adult children and grandchildren. She has taken on roles beyond traditional grandparenting, including providing housing, discipline, and financial assistance, impacting her own retirement savings.
Key Numbers
72Joann Ernst's age
1.1 millionUS grandparents 60+ providing part-time care for grandchildren (2024)
$1,500monthly rent for the house in Connecticut
25hours per week Ernst works as a paid caregiver
Who's Involved
Joann Ernst
72-year-old grandmother delaying retirement to support family
Jack
Ernst's son who lost an arm and receives financial and housing support
Joanna
Ernst's daughter who has a kidney condition and receives caregiving support
↳ Why This Matters
The financial and personal sacrifices made by grandparents like Joann Ernst highlight the growing burden on older generations to support adult children and grandchildren, impacting retirement security and personal savings.
Key facts
Joann Ernst, 72, is delaying retirement to support her adult children and grandchildren.
She is providing housing, financial assistance, and caregiving for her grandsons.
Ernst is also paying the mortgage on a house in Connecticut for her son Jack and his children.
She works 25 hours a week as a paid caregiver for her grandson with autism.
Census data shows over 1.1 million US grandparents aged 60+ were part-time caregivers for grandchildren in 2024.
Ernst stated she enjoys the role but is unable to retire and is spending down her retirement money.
Joann Ernst, 72, is delaying her retirement to provide extensive financial and practical support to her adult children and grandchildren. After her son Jack lost an arm in an accident, Ernst moved in with him and his sons for two years, taking a job in special education, paying his rent, and acting as a disciplinarian and caregiver. She recently moved back to Oregon to assist her daughter Joanna with her children, continuing the same level of support.
Ernst is currently paying the mortgage on her Connecticut home so Jack and his sons can continue to live there while she is in Oregon. She also works 25 hours a week as a paid caregiver for Joanna's son, who has autism, and provides him with financial assistance. Ernst expressed that while she enjoys her role, it prevents her from retiring and is depleting her retirement savings.
This situation reflects a broader trend, with Business Insider speaking to over 60 grandparents in similar circumstances. Census data from 2024 indicates that more than 1.1 million US grandparents aged 60 and older are providing at least part-time care for their grandchildren. These grandparents often act as financial and practical backstops for their adult children facing challenges such as illness, job loss, or addiction.
Frequently asked questions
Ernst provides housing, financial assistance, discipline, and caregiving for her grandsons, acting in a motherly capacity. She is also a paid caregiver for her grandson with autism.
Ernst's son Jack lost an arm in an accident, and her daughter Joanna has a debilitating kidney condition. These circumstances have required Ernst to delay her retirement and spend down her savings.
Ernst's situation is part of a larger trend where grandparents are increasingly stepping in to support adult children and grandchildren through financial hardship, illness, or job loss, often impacting their own retirement plans.
How It Developed
Joann Ernst, 72, moved to Connecticut to help her son Jack and his grandsons after he lost an arm in an accident.
Ernst took a job in special education, paid her son's rent, and helped with her grandsons on weekends.
In June, Ernst moved back to Oregon to help her daughter Joanna with her children.
Ernst continues to pay the mortgage on her Connecticut house for Jack and his sons.
She also works 25 hours a week as a paid caregiver for Joanna's son with autism and provides financial support.
