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Some of the over-60s in Germany play a major role in so-called care work: almost a third of older people who have a grandchild under the age of 14 participate in their care. This is shown by data from the German Ageing Survey, which is available to the newspapers of the Funke Media Group.
According to the survey, 15 percent of respondents in the city and about eleven percent in the countryside also support family members in need of care. A small minority, just under five percent, take over the care. Older people are also involved outside the family. Around one-fifth of 60- to 90-year-olds are engaged in voluntary work. In the city, the rate is slightly higher than in the countryside. Around half of the elderly also state that they are strongly interested in politics.
The German Ageing Survey is a representative cross-sectional and longitudinal survey of people in the second half of life; i.e. from people who are 40 years and older. The surveys are conducted by the Infas Institute for Applied Social Sciences in Bonn.
Family Minister Lisa Paus (Greens) praised the commitment of the 60-plus generation in the Funke newspapers. "Older people keep our country running," she said. »The commitment of the older generation benefits our entire society and holds it together.«
fok/dpa