The Mutual Benefits of Grandparent/Grandchild Relationships

Grandparents Day celebrates the bond between grandparent and grandchild.

As the saying goes, “What happens at Grandma’s stays at Grandma’s!” Being a grandparent could very well be one of life’s greatest joys – an 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, and so the relationships are that much sweeter.

Grandparents Day is September 13 and it is a perfect opportunity to reflect on the critical role grandparents play in the lives of grandchildren, as well as the countless emotional benefits grandchildren receive when they can forge a strong bond with their grandparents – and, vice versa. For instance:

Positive Benefits for Grandkids:

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

Positive Benefits for Grandparents:

Improved mental wellbeing and socialization, including lower rates of depression.
A more active lifestyle.
The opportunity to provide 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 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 four to five grandchildren.
Nearly three-quarters of all 8-year-olds in 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, a few hurdles for grandparents to experience close relationships with their grandkids, the largest being geographic distance. Approximately half of all grandparents live more than 200 miles away from one or more of their grandchildren. And many seniors are opting to continue to work later in life, leaving less time available for family.

To overcome these hurdles, seniors are turning increasingly 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, Zoom, and FaceTime have become household terms, helping strengthen bonds even when in-person time together is not a possibility.

If you would like to investigate recommendations for enhancing a grandparent/grandchild relationship, let Morning Glory Home Care, the top-rated home health care in Granite City, IL, help! Our creative caregiving team can provide safe, accompanied transportation for family visits (no matter the distance!), prepare meals and take care of housekeeping chores to allow seniors to dedicate quality time and energy to their grandkids, and much more.

Contact us online or give us a call any time at 618-667-8400 to discover how an in-home caregiver from Morning Glory Home Care can help older adults live the best possible life. Ask about a free assessment to learn more about our professional home health care in Granite City, IL and surrounding areas, in the comfort of home, today!