"Dobrze być dziadkiem...", "Dobrze mieć dziadka" – znaczenie zaangażowania dziadków w pomoc rodzinom oraz opiekę nad wnukami

The closest family is the most natural support group for seniors. Consequently close family members seem to play an important preventive role in the context of social exclusion of older people. Although the activity of seniors in the area of family, their involvement in family life and giving care to their grandchildren can be a burden, these elements are the important parts of the elderly people’s identity, give a sense of social belonging and promote the process of successful aging. The main aim of this article is to present the results of research into the seniors’ involvement in family life, a kind of support which grandparents give to their families and the meaning which grandparents give to caring for grandchildren. The results of the research indicate that maternal grandmothers have more forms of activities with their grandchildren and forms of assistance in the care of grandchildren than maternal grandfathers and grandparents from father side. In addition, results show that both for grandmothers and grandfathers involvement in the care of grandchildren is an important part of life and that the relationships with grandchildren enrich seniors’ existence. Involvement in the care of grandchildren is equated with a goal in life to a greater extent by the retired grandparents in comparison to the grandmothers and grandfathers professionally active.