Staying healthy when you’re raising young grandchildren
Physical challenges
The care of little kids — feeding, bathing, dressing, soothing, entertaining, lifting, carrying, and chasing after them — requires youthful energy and strength. As a grandparent you may be at a disadvantage, and not just because of age. "You may be slower from chronic conditions — like arthritis, heart problems, or diabetes — and from taking the medications needed to treat them," says Dr. Suzanne Salamon, associate chief of gerontology at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
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