4 Ways Grandparents Can Empower Grandchildren

The relationship between grandchildren and their grandparents is a quite remarkable thing. Growing kids often love spending weekends and summertime holidays with their grandparents, and the number of things that children learn from these seniors is vast. As we celebrate National Grandparents Day on the eighth of this month, let's look at some of the ways in which senior care professionals have noted that grandparents are able to empower their grandchildren.

1. Giving children the gift of self-confidence. Few people love as unconditionally as grandparents—and few people need such love as today's growing youth. Self-esteem is often a problem with kids who aren't sure about their place in the world or who feel as though they may or may not quite fit in with their peers. A grandparent's love and encouragement, though, can help grandchildren understand their individual worth and recognize that they are loved—and worthy of being loved. 
2. Teaching children about their heritage. Cultural roots are strong in many families, and it is important for kids to understand where their ancestors came from in order to truly embrace the traditions that their loved ones follow. Giving children a sense of belonging by explaining their heritage can empower them to learn more and forge a stronger personal identity.  
3. Exposing children to new ideas and challenging them to overcome difficulties. New ideas are thrown at kids each and every day, as they fight to overcome peer pressure and try to determine what is and isn't valuable with regard to the messages promoted by modern media. But in all this there are a few key ideas that are often overlooked, including compassion, kindness, and empathy. Grandchildren are certain to encounter challenges as they grow, but with these and other ideas instilled in them they can better navigate the world with sensitivity and a keen understanding of the experiences of others. 
4. Encouraging children to embrace their talents. From art to dance to music, children have a wide range of talents that allow them to express themselves and improve their confidence. But it is important that kids know it is a good thing to do so. For those grandchildren who may not fit the mold into which some people may want to put them (i.e. girls wanting to play hockey instead of dance) it can be difficult. By encouraging their grandchildren, grandparents can help them see that all of their talents are valuable and should be explored.

Protecting Your Senior against Scams

Seniors are, unfortunately, targeted by con artists, thieves, and other criminals with scams on a regular basis. It seems as though there is always a new approach to trying to take advantage of elderly individuals—and it can be difficult to keep up with the latest methods employed by these dishonest fraudsters. To help you protect your senior, elder care professionals at the National Council on Aging have compiled the following list of scams for which you should be on the lookout.1

1. Fraud: Senior care professionals warn that fraud is among the most prevalent of these cons, as it can take many shapes and forms. Medicare and insurance fraud occur when individuals pretend to be associated with healthcare organizations and gather sensitive information from seniors. Additionally, con artists may try to get seniors to buy into fraudulent anti-aging products, such as fake Botox. Finally, Internet fraud occurs when software steals personal information, such as financial and other details. 
2. Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals: These scams normally take place online, where individuals are lured in by low prices and are provided pills that are not what they are said to be. 
3. Funeral Scams: This type of con can take place in two ways. The first is the scammer taking advantage of widows and widowers by claiming the deceased owed them money. The second is the unethical practice of adding to the bills of families who are unfamiliar with the funeral process. 
4. Telemarketing: There are several scams that occur over the phone, as seniors are more likely to conduct purchases this way than other generations. It is important to encourage your elderly loved one not to make a donation or purchase over the phone without researching the cause first. 
5. Investment Schemes: These scams take advantage of the need for seniors to save for retirement by encouraging them to invest in businesses and other initiatives, such as pyramid schemes.  
6. The Grandparent Scam: In this situation, individuals call seniors and ask something akin to, "Hello Grandpa, do you know who this is?" When the senior names a name, scammers adopt that identity and ask for money. 

Unfortunately, these are just a few of the many scams out there right now. It is a good idea to do a bit of research to keep your senior protected against con artists.
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1 http://www.ncoa.org/enhance-economic-security/economic-security-Initiative/savvy-saving-seniors/top-10-scams-targeting.html