National Grandparents Day celebrates the important bond of grandparents and grandchildren.
As the saying goes, “What happens at Grandma’s stays at Grandma’s!” Being a grandparent is probably one of life’s greatest joys – the chance to experience once more the delight of spending quality time with the children in your life; only this time around, they are your children’s children, so the relationships are that much sweeter.
National Grandparents Day is September 13 and it is a perfect time to think about the significant role grandparents play in the lives of grandkids, and also the many emotional benefits grandkids receive when they can forge a solid bond with their grandparents – and, vice versa. For example:
Benefits for grandchildren:
- A source of wisdom, mentoring, influence, and friendship.
- Greater emotional support and cohesiveness for the family.
- A connection to family heritage and legacy.
- Both physical and emotional support.
Benefits for grandparents:
- Improved mental wellbeing and socialization, including reduced rates of depression.
- A more vigorous lifestyle.
- The chance to give moral guidance and to share values.
- The rewarding sense of knowing they are making an impact in the lives of their family, and also to be wanted and needed.
A current 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 seniors exploding with growth, by the year 2030, 20% of all Americans will be 65 or older.
- Grandparents have on average 4 to 5 grandchildren.
- Nearly ¾ of all 8-year-olds within the United States will have a living great-grandparent by the year 2030.
- 10% of grandparents live with their grandchildren, and 5% are primary caregivers.
There are, nevertheless, several obstacles for grandparents to enjoy close relationships with their grandchildren, the most significant being geographic distance. Over 50% of all grandparents are further than 200 miles away from at least one of their grandkids. And many older adults are opting to continue to work later in life, leaving less time available for family.
To overcome these hurdles, seniors are turning increasingly more to technology – something that’s become particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when self-quarantining was crucial for seniors. Because of this, Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime have become household terms, helping strengthen bonds even when in-person time together is not a possibility.
If you would like additional recommendations for enhancing a grandparent/grandchild relationship, let Hearts at Home In-Home Care help! Our innovative caregiving team can provide safe, accompanied transportation for family visits (regardless of distance!), nutritious meals, and assistance with housekeeping chores to permit seniors to dedicate quality time to their grandchildren, and much more.
Call us any time at 913-440-4209 to discover how an in-home caregiver from Hearts at Home In-Home Care can help seniors live their best possible lives. Request a complimentary assessment to learn more about our in home care in Kansas City and surrounding areas today!