With the high cost of childcare these days, grandparents are often asked to babysit. Besides the special quality time with their grandchildren, an article by USA Today says babysitting also helps boost brain power.
New research by the American Psychological Association shows that caregiving for grandchildren can help to slow cognitive decline in older adults. Studies found that grandparents who help take care of their grandchildren scored higher on memory and verbal fluency tests than those who were not caregivers.
Caregiving helps reduce social isolation, an issue affecting many seniors. The article notes that a study at the University of Michigan found that having grandchildren and seeing them regularly may improve older adults’ mental health and reduce the risk of loneliness.
Council of Seniors Wants to Support Older Americans
The Council of Seniors strives to help improve the quality of life for seniors. We are working to get Congress to passThe SAVE Benefits Act. This crucial bill will put $581 back in retirees’ pockets to make up for Social Security cost-of-living adjustments that were far too low for years.
Sign our petition today to support our efforts. Congress has ignored the growing number of seniors expecting action for way too long.