Where to start, there is a lot to digest there and so much of it wildly inaccurate. You've replaced factual statistical data with your own blinkered "facts"
The fact is older people are saving others a fortune in todays world
Not for others, for their own family. That is a pretty normal part of family life
What would older parents (by choice) do today with their family and work situation if it wasn't for grandparents minding their children, their marriages too in a lot of cases
Wow, OAP's are now marriage counsellors, good to know
Grannies and granddads in very very many cases are helping to pay mortgages for their children.
This reinforces the point that everyone else is making. They can afford to do it , they are not financially vulnerable
I feel it's a duty for the likes of me to stand up for them as I've recently moved into the pensioner generation also
If you feel it's your duty then you should be fully informed. OAP's are not one single group of people. Those living closer to poverty throughout their lifetime will invariably be closer to poverty in retirement. You are not one of those so if you want to stand up for anyone it should be those of all ages that are struggling financially.
Some weeks would see 1 of us in the west and the other in the east helping out with childminding, cooking, cleaning, money, shopping, schooling, etc. We are but one couple among thousands upon thousands doing this and we don't get paid for what sometimes is a full time job
Wouldn't it be great if we all got paid for doing our own household chores. It's your choice to help your children. If you feel you deserve a wage then speak to your employer i.e. your children.
Just trying to put a bit of perspective on the situation and hope you might see things as they really are, not what collected so called data is saying.
If you want perspective, I come from a large family and not one of us use our mother for child care and we wouldn't dream of it. She might do an occasional night of baby sitting but it is always mutually beneficial. We don't keep score but any good gesture is always reciprocated. Some of us are local and others are spread around the country (myself included). Anytime she comes to visit we typically take time off so we can do leisurely activities and she can enjoy time spent with her grandchildren.
Similarly with my father in law, he's closer and visits more often but its always leisurely. His biggest challenge is sitting at the tiny table and chairs that his grandchild insists on while they play together
Lots of house-hunters today are given the deposit for buying their house by pensioners, in lots of cases the old people leave themselves broke in doing so and will never see their money again
Probably the only point you have made that is in some way true. There will always be those who sacrifice too much for the betterment of their children. They want the next generation of their family to have more than they ever had which is commendable. But they make that choice knowing the consequences and those that make it are usually happy to do so.