Nursery World - Grandparents: 'too old' to care?

Grandparents over the age of 65 are considered too old by social workers to raise their young grandchildren, according to a new report.

Research by charity Grandparents Plus found that social workers and local authority panels are more likely to choose adoption for children in care over being raised by their grandparents and other family carers, because they make ageist assumptions about their ability to raise their grandchildren.

The charity argues that ‘greater weight is given to the ‘permanency’ of adoption, rather than the love, stability and family links that grandparents and other family carers can provide.’

The report, Too Old to Care, which is based on in-depth interviews with older grandparent carers, highlights evidence to suggest that adoption is not necessarily a permanent alternative for children as often thought, with 10-50 per cent of placements breaking down.

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