Grandparents as Caregivers in South Carolina
The Census Bureau defines the term "grandparents as caregivers" as grandparent(s) who have assumed full care of their grandchildren on a temporary or permanent live-in basis. This is a new question/data category for Census 2000.
In South Carolina in 2000, 4.4 percent of the population over age 30 (99,558 people) lived with their own grandchildren less than 18 years of age. 52.0 percent of these grandparents (51,755 people) were responsible for their grandchildren. Nationwide, 42.0 percent of grandparents living in a household with one or more grandchildren were responsible for their grandchildren.
Grandparents Responsible for Grandchildren: 2000
| South Carolina | United States | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | |
| Population 30 Years and Over in Households | 2,263,664 | 100.0 | 158,881,037 | 100.0 |
| Living with Own Grandchildren Under 18 Years | 99,558 | 4.4 | 5,771,671 | 3.6 |
| Responsible for Grandchildren | 51,755 | 52.0 | 2,426,730 | 42.0 |
| Not Responsible for Grandchildren | 47,803 | 48.0 | 3,344,941 | 58.0 |
| Not Living with Own Grandchildren Under 18 Years | 2,164,106 | 95.6 | 153,109,366 | 96.4 |
Amount of Time Grandparents Have Been Responsible for Grandchildren
In South Carolina, grandparents often take responsiblility for their grandchildren on a long-term basis. In 2000, 44.6 percent of grandparents who were responsible for their grandchildren had been the caregiver for 5 or more years. In the U.S., 38.5 percent of grandparents responsible for their grandchildren had been the caregiver for 5 or more years.
Amount of Time Grandparents Have Been Responsible for Grandchildren: 2000
| South Carolina | United States | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | |
| Grandparents Responsible for Grandchildren | 2,263,664 | 100.0 | 158,881,037 | 100.0 |
| Responsible for Grandchildren Less than 6 Months | 5,320 | 10.3 | 293,045 | 12.1 |
| 6 to 11 Months | 5,085 | 9.8 | 262,623 | 10.8 |
| 1 or 2 Years | 11,164 | 21.6 | 563,403 | 23.2 |
| 3 or 4 Years | 7,097 | 13.7 | 374,251 | 15.4 |
| 5 Years or More | 23,089 | 44.6 | 933,408 | 38.5 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Census 2000. SF3, Table PCT8.