Grandparents who spend more time with their grandchildren live long, science suggests
| Updated: Feb 28, 2018, 12:46 IST
When it comes to marriage, one of the best possible things you can do for your relationship is agree to go on date-nights as often as possible. But, most couples avoid doing so as they have no one to leave their children with. However, what about their grandparents? Just get your parents to watch the kids! This won't only give you the time to work on your relationships a little more, but science suggests that spending long hours with grandchildren results in the grandparents living longer lives!
A study which used data from the Berlin Aging Study has analysed 20 years worth of data from 500 seniors aged 70 and older. Grandparents who provided some form of care to their grandchildren had a 37 percent lower hazard ratio than their non-care-giving peers. “There is a link between providing this care and reducing stress and we know the relationship between stress and higher risk of dying,” said Dr. Ronan Factora, a Geriatric Medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. “If providing care to grandchildren and others in need is one way that can actually reduce stress, then these activities should be of benefit to folks who are grandparents and provide this care to their grandkids," added the doctor. The benefits extended beyond blood, as seniors who provided caregiving to children who were not their own also enjoyed similar benefits.
A study which used data from the Berlin Aging Study has analysed 20 years worth of data from 500 seniors aged 70 and older. Grandparents who provided some form of care to their grandchildren had a 37 percent lower hazard ratio than their non-care-giving peers. “There is a link between providing this care and reducing stress and we know the relationship between stress and higher risk of dying,” said Dr. Ronan Factora, a Geriatric Medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. “If providing care to grandchildren and others in need is one way that can actually reduce stress, then these activities should be of benefit to folks who are grandparents and provide this care to their grandkids," added the doctor. The benefits extended beyond blood, as seniors who provided caregiving to children who were not their own also enjoyed similar benefits.