Intergenerational Support Contributions of Older People in Iceland to Their Families and Society

ABSTRACT

Old age is often linked to weakness and a need for support from family members and society. The focus in this article is on intergenerational support, in which older individuals offer support to younger generations. Results from two telephone surveys executed in 2006 and 2016 are reported. The participants were individuals aged 67–85 years old. About 62% of the participants in 2006 and 73% in 2016 had provided help with child care, with the biggest difference in the increase in accompanying or driving children between places. About 20% of the participants had helped family members or others because of serious illnesses or disabilities.

KEYWORDS:

• Older people
• contribution
• child care
• intergenerational support

Notes

¹ Ingibjörg H Harðardóttir, MA, assistant professor, and Amalia Björnsdóttir, PhD, professor, School of Education University of Iceland.

Mailing adress: Amalia Bjornsdottir, University of Iceland, School of Education, Saemundargata 2, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland. Email: [email protected].