(ANSA) - In today's tough economic climate, Italy's grandparents are increasing a key source of support for young families, a new study has revealed.
Italy is traditionally a nation of strong family ties and grandparents have always played a central role in the development of younger generations. But a recent Observatory of the Elderly report suggests
many Italian families would be unable to get by without the financial and practical help of the 'nonni'.
The study showed that Italian grandparents give around 7.5 billion euros a year to their children and grandchildren.
On average retired people over 60 give almost 9% of their pension to the younger generations. A gesture that is all the more generous when one considers that the average pension is just 10,800 euros. And when the pension does not stretch far enough, 70% of grandparents dip into their savings to help the youngsters
get by. This contribution is besides the various other ways Italy's grandparents offer emotional and practical support, as well as the huge amounts of free child care they give.
The study showed that 42% of young couples get their parents to baby-sit, in some cases for as much as 35 hours a week. "Generosity, sacrifice, helpfulness are in the DNA of Italy's grandparents," said Observatory of the Elderly Secretary General Roberto Messina.
"Many young couples owe the fact that they manage to get by to the commitment, reliability and financial contribution of elderly people, who are very willing to make sacrifices to see their children and grandchildren happy."
The nation's senior citizens can take heart from the fact that their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Seven out of 10 children the Observatory spoke to said they viewed their 'nonni' as a "sure reference point". According to a poll by the Eurispes research institute, published last year, Italian grandparents are living in a golden age in which they are loved and appreciated more than ever before.
Almost all the children interviewed by Eurispes said they felt loved by their grandparents and most also said they felt they were "understood" by them. Three quarters of the sample saw them as an essential source of information about life.
Furthermore, last month the Italian Parliament named October 2 - the day the church dedicates to guardian angels - National Grandparents' Day. The law establishing the new national day invites local governments to sponsor initiatives which highlight the role of grandparents in society. There will also be annual Grandfather and Grandmother of the year awards to be given out by the head of state.
"Grandparents are often an indispensable resource for families and its great to recognize their importance," said Italian Parents' Assocaiton (MOIGE) President Maria Rita Munizzi.
"But we should also ask ourselves if more could be done (by the state) to support young families."
