In the report Too Old to Care, grandparents claimed they actively avoided engaging with children’s services because of a fear the children they care for will be taken away.
The charity surveyed 255 family and friend carers as well as conducting a series of interviews with 18 grandparents aged over 65 and holding focus groups.
Older grandparent carers said they had experienced prolonged legal battles, lack of support and financial hardship.
One great-grandmother looking after her three great-grandchildren said she was told by social workers she was not entitled to respite care because she was a family member. "I didn’t have anyone who could say to me, 'sit down, I’ll take the girls for an hour'," she said.
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