Everyone ages. This is indeed a fact of life. However, as we age, we do not always receive the respect we think we deserve. Younger people pay less attention to us, or may even joke about what we say or how we look.

New research shows that ageism may be preventable when we foster positive relationships between grandparents and grandchildren. “A study published in the journal Child Development found that children who have good relationships with their grandmas and grandpas are less likely to show bias towards older adults….When it comes to ageist views, the quality of contact matters much more than frequency.”*

Another important takeaway from this study is, “According to the World Health Organization, older people who have ageist views may have shorter lifespans than those who view age positively. The global agency also cites ageism as a cause for cardiovascular stress, decreased productivity and lower self-efficacy.”*

So, here’s the bottom line: we would like our children to have positive attitudes towards aging and older adults. These views can be shaped when grandparents get to be with their grandchildren and are able to spend quality time together.

Be sure to enjoy the moments. Hooray for grandparenting!

*Annamarya Scaccia ,“Spending time with grandparents makes kids less prone to ageism,” January 16, 2018, mother.ly