If you’re fit, 50 or older, and want to explore the world, maybe you should consider becoming a granny au pair. Granny au pairs provide meaningful work for families caring for their children, while immersing themselves in various cultures across the globe.
What is a granny au pair?
A typical au pair is a young woman from abroad who lives with a family for a period of time while providing childcare and assisting with household tasks – like a nanny. A granny au pair provides the same services but is a retiree aged 50 or above. Au pairs are compensated with a place to live, meals, and a modest wage.
The concept of retired women becoming au pairs originated with a German woman, Michaela Hansen, after seeing a television documentary about au pairs. Hansen married and had children young, never having the experience of living abroad as a young person. In 2010, she founded Granny Aupair, a Hamburg-based online platform that connects older women with families worldwide for childcare and companionship. According to its website, the agency has placed more than 1,000 grannies in over 50 countries.
A granny au pair can travel to countries across nearly every continent, with popular destinations outside the U.S. including the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Australia, China, and the United Arab Emirates.
Family responses
While the concept is still relatively new, granny au pairs are growing in popularity and have been very well received by host families.
Go Au Pair, one of the original sponsoring agencies authorized to execute the Au Pair Program for au pairs coming to the U.S., reports that some families choose granny au pairs over their younger counterparts for the following reasons.
- Life experience: Retirees bring parenting skills, patience, and stability.
- Reliability and routine: Older au pairs are less likely to disrupt household schedules with late-night socializing.
- Cultural enrichment: Seniors often share stories, crafts, and traditional skills with children.
- Flexibility: Longer-term stays and part-time hours are easier to coordinate than with younger, student-aged au pairs with busy lives.
Benefits for the au pair
Granny au pairs benefit through meaningful engagement, travel opportunities, and cultural immersion. In fact, many describe the au pair experience as being like a second career or a purposeful way to spend retirement.
One of the advantages to becoming a granny au pair is the opportunity to experience different parts of the world on a small budget, which otherwise might not allow you to travel to the places you want to see. Another advantage is that as an au pair, you are not just a tourist but can become fully immersed in a country’s culture through daily living with a host family.
“The granny au pair model is a win-win. Children benefit from experienced care, families enjoy peace of mind, and retirees gain travel, community, and purpose. It’s proof that it’s never too late to explore the world, make a difference, and foster meaningful cross-generational connections,” says Devon Kaper from Go Au Pair.
Servicing more than 55 cities across the U.S. in more than 25 states with au pairs from more than 37 countries, Go Au Pair reports the rise of granny au pairs reflects broader societal shifts such as longer life expectancy, flexible retirement, and a desire by retirees to continue to have meaningful engagement.
Could this work for you?
Having experience as a parent, grandparent, teacher, nurse, or childcare provider can be beneficial for granny au pairs, especially when seeking placements with host families, although no specific experience is required. If you’re between the ages of 50 and 75 and have the following qualities, you may have what it takes to be a granny au pair.
- You love nurturing, playing with, and teaching children.
- You’re reliable and responsible.
- You’re open to learning and trying new things.
- You’re active and energetic.
- You have a desire to travel.
If you’d like to pursue becoming a granny au pair, keep in mind that exchange programs must ensure compliance with work visas, residency requirements, and insurance coverage for retirees. In Europe, specialized agencies handle placement, legal documentation, and support, while families must verify that participants meet local labor laws.
Be sure to work with a reputable agency and ask questions before a placement. Both retirees and hosts should discuss things like schedules, responsibilities, and cultural expectations ahead of time.
