Mount Pleasant Magazine May/June 2018

182 www.RetiringToSC.com | www.ILoveMountPleasant.com | www.ReadMP.com senior living I don’t know about you, but, when I was younger, I always knew that time with my grandparents meant a free pass for fun. Not to say everything was fair game, but it’s safe to say that I always knew an extra bowl of ice cream was coming my way. That being said, grandparents deserve the extra special relationship with their grandchildren, free from the normal “rules” set in place by parents. After all, they already did their job, right? Having raised their own children, it’s a welcomed freedom for most grandparents to enjoy their little ones in short spurts and with plenty of fun planned for the day. This precious time spent together has a few extra perks, however, with studies showing that grandparents that are “active” in the lives of their grandchildren have sharpened cognitive skills, increased emotional health and overall endure less stress. Additionally, a 2014 Australian study showed that grandparents who played an active role with their grandchildren – typically caring for them at least a day or two throughout the week – helped to reduce the chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease. As important as the health benefits are, it’s the quality time surrounded by the little ones that they love the most, leaving grandparents thankful for the moments together. Donna Burke , a retired registered nurse at the Medical By Krysta Chapman Quality Time For . Grandparents But the Grandkids are theTrueWinners