Celebrate Grandparents Day and the Mutual Benefits of Grandparent/Grandchild Relationships

As the old saying goes, “What happens at Grandma’s stays at Grandma’s!” Being a grandparent is perhaps one of life’s greatest joys – a way to experience once again the satisfaction of spending quality time and doting on the children in your life; only this time around, they are your children’s children, and so the relationships are that much sweeter.

Grandparents Day is September 13 and it is a fantastic opportunity to reflect on the significant role grandparents play in the lives of grandchildren, and the many emotional benefits grandchildren receive when they can forge a strong bond with their grandparents – and, vice versa. Contact us online or call us at 314-432-4312 to learn more from our professional senior caregivers.

Positive Benefits for Grandkids:

• A source of knowledge, influence, mentoring, and friendship.
• Enhanced emotional support and cohesiveness for the family.
• A connection to family legacy and heritage.
• Both physical and emotional support.

Positive Benefits for Grandparents:

• Enhanced socialization and mental wellbeing, including lower rates of depression.
• A more active lifestyle.
• The chance to give moral guidance and also to share values.
• The rewarding feeling of knowing they are making an impact in the lives of their family, and to be wanted and needed.

A recently available 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 on average 4 – 5 grandchildren.
• Nearly ¾ 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, nevertheless, a few obstacles for grandparents to overcome when it comes to experiencing close relationships with their grandkids, the largest being geographic distance. Over 50% of all grandparents are more than 200 miles away from at least one of their grandchildren. And many older adults are opting to continue to work later in life, leaving a reduced amount of 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 seniors. Because of this, Skype, Zoom, and FaceTime have grown to become household terms, helping strengthen bonds even when in-person time together is not an option.

If you’d like to explore suggestions for enhancing a grandparent/grandchild relationship, let Compassionate Nursing Services help! Our innovative caregiving team can provide safe, accompanied transportation for family visits (regardless of distance!), prepare meals and care for housekeeping chores to enable seniors to dedicate quality time to their grandchildren, and much more.

Reach out to us any time at 314-432-4312 to learn how an in-home caregiver from Compassionate Nursing Services, providers of senior home care in St. Louis and the surrounding areas, can help cherished older adults live the best possible life. Request a complimentary assessment, in the comfort of home, today!