Final answer:
Grandparents living close to and seeing their grandchildren daily are part of an extended family structure, which may include various other relatives. They sometimes act as primary caregivers, providing support and wisdom, and are an important part of the rising multi-generational household trend in the U.S. since the 1980s.
Step-by-step explanation:
Grandparents who live on the next street and see their grandchildren everyday can be described as partaking in an extended family structure. This term defines a family that includes at least one parent and their children as well as other relatives, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. The role of grandparents has evolved, with many stepping in as primary caregivers for various reasons including parental drug abuse, incarceration, or abandonment. In these cases, grandparents provide emotional support, wisdom, and in nearly half of the cases, take on the primary responsibility for their grandchildren. The prevalence of multi-generational households, where grandparents, parents, and grandchildren live in close proximity or together, has been on the rise in the United States since reaching a low point around 1980.