I once saw a meme about why grandparents and grandchildren tend to have such a strong bond. It read, “Your parents and your children are so close because they share a common enemy: YOU.”
And while this was obviously meant to be tongue in cheek, it pointed out an important truth. Children and the elderly often form close bonds. This is an important component of family that is sometimes overlooked or ignored. But some of my favorite memories of my childhood are of my grandma. Odds are, some of your favorite memories involve older loved ones, too.
There’s a lot to be said from a professional point of view when it comes to the benefits of younger kids interacting with seniors, especially family members. There are benefits to both the young and the old when this happens. For kids, the good aspects are numerous. Just to name a few, kids learn stories about their family and history, they can learn skills that they might not learn otherwise, they become more compassionate regarding the needs of others, and much more.
Kids can help enhance the quality of life an older adult experiences.
When my grandma was placed in a nursing home after breaking her hip and becoming unable to walk, it wasn’t just her face that would light up when me and my children would come to see her in New York. It seemed like every resident would want to at least say hi to my kids. Even if it was for a moment, they had a better day because they were around children. There’s a mental health benefit to interacting with others, but kids often can bring joy to the elderly that can’t be duplicated.
Each member of your family, from the youngest to the oldest, plays an important role. This is one of the key concepts that supports the importance of in-home care. Your family is important to you, and it’s important to the people that you love. Allowing your older loved one to stay where they are while they age and continue to be a member of that family atmosphere is often the best possible thing that you can do for both their physical and mental health. That doesn’t mean that those who require a nursing home or an assisted living facility are not important parts of your family. After all, sometimes the needs that are present are severe enough that proper assistance cannot be safely given in the home. By helping those that can stay in their home with some of the daily tasks that they are struggling with, you are giving them the opportunity to age in place, where and how they want to. This kind of freedom can do wonders for someone.
It’s why we do what we do. If you would like to learn more about in-home care and what it might look like for your family, please don’t hesitate to reach out. One of our caregivers will be happy to talk more with you during a free consultation session regarding how in-home care can serve your family. Call us today to get started.
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