As Hong Kong's population ages rapidly, more people are needing care in their later years, and this has increased the demand for family-based elder care. A recent study by the Asia-Pacific Institute of Aging Studies (APIAS) at Lingnan University looked into how grandchildren are taking on caregiving roles for their ailing grandparents. The research found that those who were cared for by their grandparents in childhood are more likely to return the favor. Another key reason is the desire to ease the caregiving burden on their parents. The study also identified challenges faced by young caregivers, such as a lack of nursing knowledge and skills. The growing use of foreign domestic helpers for child care and household tasks may be reducing the traditional role of grandparents in raising grandchildren. This shift could weaken the long-term support network between generations when it comes to elder care. The findings were published in the International Journal of Social Welfare. The research team, led by Lingnan University, interviewed 40 grandchildren between the ages of 15 and 63 who had either previously cared for or were currently caring for ailing or disabled grandparents. These participants were recruited through social welfare organizations and schools between April and December 2023. The grandparents they cared for had a range of health conditions, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, dementia, mobility or hearing issues, and more than half of them were 85 or older. The study identified four main reasons why grandchildren take on caregiving roles: the desire to repay the care they once received, seeing it as a family duty, helping to reduce the burden on their parents, and having more flexible schedules due to being students or having less demanding jobs. For example, a 21-year-old university student cares for both her grandfather, who has cancer and dementia, and her grandmother, who has a disability. Another participant, a 16-year-old secondary school student, helps care for her maternal grandmother who has mobility issues. In Hong Kong, over 300,000 households employ foreign domestic helpers for child care and household work, which may reduce the traditional involvement of grandparents in raising grandchildren. This shift in caregiving roles raises concerns about how it might affect the relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, as well as the future of intergenerational elder care support. Professor Dickson Chan Chak-kwan, research professor and director of APIAS at Lingnan University, emphasized the importance of building emotional bonds between the younger generation and their grandparents from an early age. This, he said, could help maintain a strong intergenerational care support network. He suggested that social welfare organizations, schools, and youth centers could work together to provide young caregivers with basic skills and knowledge for caring for family members with chronic illnesses or disabilities. Schools and universities might also offer support and flexible arrangements to help students balance their caregiving duties with their studies and personal lives.