Grandparents' Impact Spotlighted on International Day of Grandparents

In Spain, seniors are recognized for their active role in families and communities during the International Day of Grandparents. According to Ceoma, 85 % of grandparents help care for grandchildren, averaging 16 hours per week, and one in four volunteers over 65 contributes knowledge and experience in community and professional programs. President José Luis Fernández Santillana called grandparents “the essential gear” of family cohesion and economic support.

In Argentina, a study of 200 adolescents published in the Acta Psiquiátrica y Psicológica de América Latina found that grandparents are viewed as trusted figures who offer advice, emotional support, and a sense of purpose. Researchers from the Universidad Católica Argentina reported that active grandparent involvement is linked to better emotional wellbeing and cognitive health for both generations, with maternal grandmothers often cited as the strongest bond. The concept of "abuelidad"—the role of grandparents in transmitting family history and values—was originally coined by psychiatrist Paulina Redler.

Both countries use the day on July 26 to emphasize the social, emotional, and volunteer contributions of grandparents.