By William Coleman
Whilst many of us are busy planning our 2019 holidays, new research has revealed it’s not just parents and children who need a getaway. It turns out that there are plenty of benefits for our grandparents and great-grandparents too, especially when it comes to their health and happiness.
Due to an ageing population in the UK, there are now more great-grandparents than ever before. So, Parkdean Resorts, the UK’s largest holiday park operator, has teamed up with Dr James Brown, Biogerontologist from Channel 4’s Old People’s Home for 4 Year Old’s (OPHF4YO), to reveal why we should all consider a four-generation holiday.
James explains: “A four-generation getaway can kick-start the process of improving mood, enhancing memory, bettering physical function and reducing loneliness in older adults. All of these benefits can help to slow down elements of age-related decline.”
Sadly though, research by Parkdean Resorts revealed that just over one third (37%) of grandparents and great-grandparents have been on a multigenerational holiday in the past 12 months, despite over three quarters (78%) being open to the possibility in 2019.
A multigenerational holiday can give older adults something to look forward to, which James believes is crucial. He says: “We found in both series’ of OPHF4YO, that many residents felt socially isolated and had little to look forward to. We know that psychology drives a lot of biology, so without a sense of purpose, biological systems can start to shut down and you can literally die of a broken heart. That’s why it’s essential to give older adults not just a sense of purpose, but something to look forward to.”
The research also revealed that more than 70% of grandparents and great-grandparents feel happier after spending time with their grandchildren, with over half (55%) of respondents reporting improved mental health.
These results come as no surprise to James, who says: “Intergenerational studies have shown that spending time with young children improves mental health almost immediately.
Anybody who spends time around a happy child will feel happier, it’s infectious. And nothing makes you happier than a holiday!”
The good news is that you don’t have to venture abroad for a four-generation holiday either. With shorter travel times, familiar environments and picturesque locations, the UK is the ideal destination for a family getaway.
John Waterworth, Chief Executive of Parkdean Resorts, says: “A family getaway is the perfect opportunity to spend quality time together, away from the stresses of everyday life. It can remind older adults of the good old days, as many of them will have enjoyed UK holidays when they were younger, triggering a comforting sense of nostalgia.”
And prompting nostalgic memories can be fundamental to keeping the brain young and improving memory function. James continues: “Autobiographical memory contains the information you have about yourself, and for most older adults, a UK holiday will trigger nostalgic thoughts like ‘I can remember coming here when I was younger’ or ‘I can remember caravan holidays like this when I was a child.'”
And it’s not just mental and cognitive health that appears to improve when spending time with young children. Over one third (35%) of grandparents and great-grandparents believe their physical health significantly improves too.
James adds: “Children encourage their senior relatives to be more active and forget about their physical capabilities. It’s so easy as an older adult to define yourself by your inabilities and disabilities, but a family holiday is the perfect opportunity for older adults to remember just how much they can physically do.”
With more than 60% of grandparents and great-grandparents reportedly not planning a family holiday in 2019, Dr James Brown has collaborated with Parkdean Resorts, who offer a range of accessible caravans and lodges, to share some of the health benefits of a four-generation getaway.
