Published: August 30, 2019

Time with grandkids could boost health – even lifespan

By ·¬ÇÑÊÓƵ News

Please note: This article was published more than two years ago, so some information may be outdated. If you have questions about your health, always contact a health care professional.
Clockwise: Julie Brogan with her granddaughters Phoebe, Niamh and Rowan. (Photo courtesy of Julie Brogan)
Clockwise: Julie Brogan with her granddaughters Phoebe, Niamh and Rowan. (Photo courtesy of Julie Brogan)

Julie Brogan's granddaughters, ages 9, 12 and 13, spend part of every summer at her home overlooking Lake Michigan in Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin. They enjoy paddle boarding, swimming and working on projects in the professional painter's art studio.

Their experiences have mirrored what scientific researchers have found: Spending time with grandchildren can have positive health impacts. But there is a caveat. Quality is just as important as quantity.

"It's been a hard summer, but it makes me feel really good to have them in the house, and they have been very helpful to me," said Brogan, 74, who had radiation to treat non-invasive breast cancer. "Right now, it's a healing place, and they're really helping me to get through this."

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