The relationship between grandparents and grandchildren provides many benefits.
As the old adage goes, “What happens at Grandma’s stays at Grandma’s!” Being a grandparent is perhaps one of life’s greatest joys – an opportunity to experience once more the delight of spending quality time and doting on the children in your life; only this time around, they’re your children’s children, so the relationships are that much sweeter.
Grandparents Day is September 13 and it is a great opportunity to consider the critical role grandparents play in the lives of grandkids, along with the many emotional benefits grandkids receive when they can forge a powerful bond with their grandparents – and, the other way around. For instance:
Positive Benefits for Grandchildren:
- A source of wisdom, influence, friendship, and mentoring.
- Greater emotional support and cohesiveness for the family.
- A link with family legacy and heritage.
- Both physical and emotional support.
Positive Benefits for Grandparents:
- Enhanced mental wellbeing and socialization, including lower rates of depression.
- A more active lifestyle.
- The opportunity to offer moral guidance and to share values.
- The rewarding sense of knowing they are making a difference in the lives of their family, and to be wanted and needed.
A recently available AARP report shares some interesting facts surrounding the grandparent-grandchild relationship:
- By the age of 65, an astounding 96% of individuals are grandparents. And with our population of older adults exploding with growth, by the year 2030, 20% of all Americans will be 65 or older.
- Grandparents have on average 4 – 5 grandchildren.
- Nearly three-quarters of all 8-year-olds within the United States will likely have a living great-grandparent by the year 2030.
- Ten percent of grandparents live with their grandchildren, and five percent are primary caregivers.
There are, nonetheless, a few hurdles when it comes to establishing a relationship between grandparents and grandchildren, the most significant being geographic distance. More than 50% of all grandparents are farther than 200 miles away from at least one of their grandchildren. And many older adults are choosing to continue to work later in life, leaving less time available for family.
To overcome these obstacles, older adults are turning more and more to technology – something that has become particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when self-quarantining was crucial for the elderly. Due to this, Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom have grown to be household terms, helping enhance bonds even when in-person time together isn’t a possibility.
If you’d like to look into ideas for enhancing a grandparent and grandchild relationship, let Abby Senior Care help! Our innovative caregiving team can provide safe, accompanied transportation for family visits (regardless of distance!), prepare meals and care for housekeeping chores to allow seniors to dedicate quality time to their grandkids, and so much more.
Contact us any time at 303-699-8840 to discover how an in-home caregiver from Abby Senior Care can help older adults live the best possible life. Learn more about our professional senior care in Greenwood Village and the surrounding areas, and schedule a free assessment in the comfort of home today!