Learn about the importance of grandparents and the role they play in the lives of grandchildren.
As the saying goes, “What happens at Grandma’s stays at Grandma’s!” Being a grandparent may very well be one of life’s greatest joys – the opportunity to experience once more the satisfaction of doting on and spending quality time with 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 an ideal time to think about the importance of grandparents in the lives of grandchildren, along with the countless emotional benefits grandkids receive when they can forge a strong good bond with their grandparents – and, vice versa. As an example:
Benefits for grandchildren:
- A source of knowledge, influence, mentoring, and friendship.
- Improved emotional support and cohesiveness for the family.
- A link with family legacy and heritage.
- Both physical and emotional support.
Benefits for grandparents:
- Increased mental wellbeing and socialization, including lower rates of depression.
- A more vigorous lifestyle.
- The potential to give moral guidance and to share values.
- The rewarding feeling of knowing they’re making an impact in the lives of their family, and to be needed and wanted.
A current AARP report reveals 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 an average of four to five grandchildren.
- Nearly three-quarters of all 8-year-olds within the United States will likely have a living great-grandparent by the year 2030.
- 10% of grandparents live with their grandchildren, and 5% are primary caregivers.
There are, nonetheless, some obstacles for grandparents to experience close relationships with their grandkids, the largest being geographic distance. Over 50% of all grandparents live further than 200 miles away from one or more of their grandkids. And many seniors are choosing to continue to work later in life, leaving a reduced amount of time available for family.
To conquer these barriers, older adults are turning increasingly to technology – something that’s become particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when self-quarantining was essential for the elderly. Due to this, Skype, FaceTime, and Zoom have become household terms, helping enhance bonds even when in-person time together is not an option.
If you would like to look into recommendations for enhancing a grandparent/grandchild relationship, let Inspired Home Care, the leading providers of home care in Wilmette and surrounding communities, help! Our innovative caregiving team can provide safe, accompanied transportation for family visits (no matter the distance!), prepare meals and look after housekeeping chores to permit seniors to dedicate quality time to their grandchildren, and much more.
Contact us any time at 847-787-7572 to learn how an in-home caregiver from Inspired Home Care can help older adults live the best possible life. Request a complimentary consultation to learn more about our top-rated home care in Wilmette and the surrounding communities, in the comfort of home, today!