Elders Who Provide Care Live Longer than Their Counterparts

Grandparents who help out with childcare or provide support to other community members tend to live longer than other elders who do not care for people. However, having full-time custody of grandchildren can be detrimental to their health, but occasional helping can be beneficial. The study shows that the risk of dying over a twenty-year period was one-third lower for seniors who cared for their grandchildren compared to their counterparts who did not provide any childcare. The same was true for those seniors who supported other adult family members or unrelated members of their community. Specifically, caregiving may improve cognitive functioning as well as physical and mental health.   

See Grandparents Who Help Care for Grandchildren Live Longer than Other Seniors, Fox News, January 3, 2017.