When you are married to someone depressed, it can feel like you are walking on eggshells. You never know your spouse’s mood and when they might snap at you for seemingly no reason. 

However, you are not alone dealing with a depressed person. In the US there are almost 21 million people who have at least one major depression episode. And most of them are married or were married. 

Dealing with a depressed spouse can be a rather difficult situation to navigate, but there are ways that you can help your spouse and yourself through it. Here are some tips on how to deal with a depressed spouse.

Signs Your Spouse Is Depressed

Depression is a severe mental illness that affects many people. If you’re worried about your spouse, some telltale signs can give you clues about their well-being. 

Understanding these symptoms and knowing what to do if you notice them can help you care for your spouse and get them the help they need. Here are some of the most common warning signs of depression in spouses:

Changes in sleeping patterns or appetite

One of the most obvious signs of major depression is changing sleeping habits or appetite. For example, your spouse might sleep too much or might not be able to sleep at all. They may also eat more or less than usual. These changes can be difficult to notice, but taking note of them can help identify depression in your spouse.

A lack of motivation or interest

Another common sign of major depression is a lack of interest in things that were once enjoyable to your spouse. They might stop spending time with friends and family members, they might not be interested in hobbies they used to enjoy, or they may be unable to work as much as they usually do. These changes can be signs of something wrong, so it’s essential to pay attention if you suspect your spouse might have depression.

Withdrawing from loved ones

Along with a lowered mood and a loss of interest in activities, your spouse may also withdraw from loved ones when they are depressed. This can involve avoiding social situations, not returning phone calls or emails, and generally isolating themselves. If you notice your spouse withdrawing from you, it’s essential to talk to them about what’s going on.

Increased irritability or anger

Depression can also cause increased irritability or anger in some people. If you notice your spouse snapping at you more often than usual or if they seem to be easily angered, it could be a sign that something is wrong. This is especially true if their outbursts are out of character for them.

Changes in weight or appearance

Just as depression can lead to changes in sleeping and eating habits, it can also lead to changes in weight or appearance. Your spouse may lose or gain weight, stop taking care of their hygiene, or let their appearance go. These changes can be subtle, but they can be clues that something is wrong.

Feeling hopeless or helpless

Depression can also cause hopelessness and helplessness. Your spouse may feel like there’s no point in anything, that things will never get better, or that they can’t do anything to improve their situation. If you notice your spouse expressing these kinds of negative thoughts, it’s essential to talk to them about how you’re feeling.

Experiencing physical pain

In some cases, depression can also cause physical pain. This can include headaches, stomachaches, and general aches and pains. If your spouse is complaining of physical pain that doesn’t seem to have a cause, it’s essential to mention it to their doctor.

Thinking about death or suicide

Finally, one of the most severe signs of depression is thinking about death or suicide. If your spouse is talking about wanting to die or hurt themselves, it’s essential to get help immediately. These thoughts can lead to dangerous behaviors, so it’s crucial to get professional help.

If you notice any of these warning signs in your spouse, it’s essential to talk to them about what’s going on. Depression is a severe illness, but it’s also treatable. Many resources are available to help people struggling with depression, so don’t hesitate to reach out for help.

You might also like to read: Dealing with Senior Depression – A Guide for Caregivers

Taking Care of Your Spouse: Ways to Help your Husband or Wife Deal with Depression

One of the most important things you can do to help your spouse deal with depression is simply being kind and supportive to them. Your spouse may feel like they’re letting down their family by suffering from this condition, and they need reassurance that they haven’t let anyone down by struggling with symptoms of depression. Be patient with them – depression can be complicated to deal with, and it will take time for them to adjust and cope. In the meantime, try to be as understanding and supportive as possible.

Be there for them

One of the most important things you can do is simply be there for your spouse. Listen to them when they want to talk, and offer encouragement when they need it. Let them know that you’re here for them, no matter what.

Avoid Entering the ‘FixIt Mode’

When your spouse is going through depression, it can be tempting to try to fix their problems. After all, you love them and want to see them happy and healthy. However, it’s important to avoid entering the “fix-it” mode. This means not trying to take on their problems as your own or becoming their therapist. Instead, focus on being supportive and understanding.

Encourage treatment

If your spouse is dealing with depression, it’s essential to be supportive and encourage treatment. Depression can be difficult to manage, but your spouse can recover with the right help and support. 

Depression is a severe condition that requires medical attention. There are many effective treatments available, so it’s essential to get started on the path to recovery as soon as possible. If your spouse is not already in treatment, encourage them to seek professional help.

Create a supportive home environment

If your spouse is suffering from depression, one of the best things you can do is create a supportive home environment. This means creating an environment that is safe, loving, and nurturing. Here are some tips on how to do this:

1. Be understanding and patient: Depression can be a challenging condition to deal with, and your spouse may not always be able to express themselves as they would like. Try to be understanding and patient with them, even when it is difficult for you or it doesn’t seem like progress is being made.

2. Set healthy boundaries and expectations: While it’s essential to be supportive and understanding, it’s also crucial that these emotions don’t lead to codependency. Set healthy boundaries with your spouse, and be clear about what you expect from them regarding communication and behavior.

3. Seek professional help: If you feel like you’re struggling to cope or support your spouse, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. A therapist can provide valuable guidance on how to best support your spouse and help you work through your own emotions about the situation.

Focus on small goals

In particular, focussing on small goals can make a big difference when taking care of your spouse during their battle with depression. It can be easy to get bogged down in all the things that need to be done or feel like everything is too overwhelming, but by breaking things down into more manageable chunks, you can help make the process more bearable – and ultimately more successful.

Know the warning signs of suicide

It’s essential to be aware of these warning signs in yourself as you care for your spouse. If you notice that your spouse seems down and is withdrawing from their usual activities, reach out to them and talk about how they’re feeling. Please encourage them to seek professional help, whether through a doctor or therapist, to get the support and treatment they need to manage their depression.

Support Your Spouse’s Successes

One of the most important things you can do as a spouse to support your partner during a depressive episode is to encourage them when they succeed. Whether they’re taking steps toward getting better with treatment or taking on new challenges that build confidence, you must highlight these achievements and celebrate them together as a couple. Reaffirming your partner’s successes, even if they seem small to you, can make a big difference in helping them to feel supported and motivated.

You might also like to read: How To Help Elderly With Depression?

Working On Your Marriage

Check Out Couples Counseling

One of the best things you can do for your marriage is to seek out couple counseling. This can help you and your spouse communicate better, work through any issues you may be having, and learn how to resolve conflict healthily. Counseling can be incredibly beneficial for marriages, so if you feel like your relationship could use some help, don’t hesitate to reach out to a counselor.

If you’re unsure if counseling is proper for you, consider talking to your spouse. See how they feel about the idea and whether or not they’d be open to trying it. If both of you are on board, find a counselor you feel comfortable with.

Strengthen your support network

One of the most important things you can do to strengthen your marriage is build a strong support network. This network should include close friends and family members who can offer advice and support when times are tough. These people can provide an invaluable sounding board for decisions about your relationship. Additionally, having a supportive network can help you weather the storms that inevitably arise in any marriage.

Create new enjoyment spaces

By creating new enjoyment spaces to focus on in your marriage at least once a week or month as part of regular date nights or special celebrations like birthdays or anniversaries, you’ll have an enjoyable way to strengthen your bonds and renew the romance between you. Here are some great ideas for creating new enjoyment spaces in your marriage:

• Cook dinner together at home and then enjoy a relaxing meal by candlelight.
• Go for a walk or hike in a nearby park or forest.
• Take a dance class together or look up online tutorials to learn some new moves.
• Plan a weekend getaway to a nearby city or town you’ve always wanted to explore.
• Check out a new restaurant in the city or try a different cuisine you’ve been curious about.
• Go on a road trip and explore other parts of the country or take a more extended vacation to an international destination.
• Spend an evening stargazing in your backyard or visit an astronomy museum to learn about the stars.

Cultivate healthy habits

When you and your spouse get married, the real work begins – working on your relationship. And for couples who’ve been together for a while, maintaining a happy marriage can be challenging. But by putting just as much effort into creating new enjoyment spaces within your relationship as you do with all of the other parts of life, you’ll create a successful working marriage that will last for years. Here are some tips on how to cultivate healthy habits in your marriage:

1. Get on the same page: First and foremost, you and your spouse must be on the same page for your relationship. If you’re not sure where your spouse stands, ask them directly about their thoughts and feelings on the relationship. This will help ensure that you’re both working towards the same goal.

2. Communicate openly and honestly: One of the most important aspects of a healthy marriage is communication. To effectively communicate with your spouse, you need to be open and honest with them. If you’re feeling upset or frustrated about something, don’t bottle it up – talk to your spouse about it. Likewise, if your spouse comes to you with a problem, listen to them and offer support.

3. Make time for each other: In today’s busy world, it’s easy to let your relationship take a backseat to everything else in your life. But if you want your marriage to thrive, it’s essential to make time for each other. Whether going on regular date nights or simply taking some time out of your day to talk to each other, carving out quality time for your spouse.

4. Be supportive: A strong marriage is built on mutual respect and support. If your spouse is struggling with something, be there for them. Offer them words of encouragement and understanding. And when they’re going through a tough time, be their rock.

5. Be honest: Honesty is vital in any relationship, but it’s essential in marriage. If you’re not being honest with your spouse about something, it can create tension and mistrust. So if there’s something on your mind, don’t hesitate to share it with your spouse.

You might also like to read: Can You Get Disability For Panic Disorder

Taking Care of Yourself

While dealing with your spouse it’s important that you take care of yourself also. This is because your spouse’s condition can affect you severely. 

Avoid the Vicious Circle

Taking care of yourself is a fundamental part of managing stress. You can do many things to take good care of yourself and many things that will help you avoid getting into the vicious circle where problems lead to more problems, causing ever-increasing stress.

One of the most important things you can do for yourself is to ensure that you aren’t overtaxing your energy. This means eating healthy and getting enough exercise to stay strong and get enough sleep so that your mind and body have time to rest and rejuvenate.

Another key strategy in avoiding the vicious circle is learning how to manage your time more effectively – this means breaking down large tasks into smaller, manageable steps and assigning time for those tasks on your calendar. 

They May Deny the Problem

It’s essential to take care of yourself, even if the person you’re caring for denies that there’s a problem. Denial is a common defense mechanism used by people confronting a difficult reality. By denying that anything is wrong, they can avoid facing the truth.

Stay Positive and Get Active

One of the best things you can do for your health is stay positive and get active. Research shows that physically active people who have a positive outlook on life are more likely to be healthy and live longer than those who don’t.

There are many ways to stay positive and get active. One way is to find an activity that you enjoy and make it part of your daily routine. Walking, biking, swimming, dancing, and gardening are great ways to stay active. You can also try something new like yoga or pilates.

It’s also important to surround yourself with positive people. Spend time with friends and family members who make you feel good about yourself. Avoid people who bring you down or make you feel bad about yourself.

Don’t get bogged down in stigma or angry feelings

It’s easy to get bogged down in stigma or angry feelings when taking care of yourself. But it’s imperative to remember that taking care of yourself is a necessity, not a luxury. Here are some tips for staying positive and keeping your self-care routine on track:

• Acknowledge your feelings, but don’t dwell on them.
• Don’t compare yourself to others. Everyone has a unique journey.
• Find an activity or hobby that brings you joy and stick with it.
• Set realistic goals for yourself and celebrate your accomplishments.

Educate yourself

One key part of taking care of yourself is educating yourself about your condition and treatment options to make informed decisions about your medical care.

Some ways to educate yourself include:

• Talk openly with your doctor or another healthcare provider about any concerns and questions regarding your treatment plan, including other possible treatments and medications available.
• Keep a detailed diary or record any symptoms associated with your condition, including when they occur, how severe they are, and what you were doing when they started.

Try to stay on the same team

It can be challenging to take care of yourself when you’re under a lot of stress, but it’s essential to try. One way to do this is to think of yourself as being on the same team as your body. Your body is working hard to keep you healthy, so it makes sense to help it out as much as you can.

Taking care of yourself can be challenging, but it’s worth it in the long run. That means eating right, exercising, and getting enough sleep. It also means avoiding things that can harm your health, like smoking or drinking too much alcohol. After all, you’re the only one who has to live with your body for your entire life!

You might also like to read: My Elderly Mother Is Never Happy – What To Do? 

Frequently Asked Questions

Wrap Up

Dealing with someone who has depression can be very difficult, but when it comes to your own spouse, it can ruin lives and break up homes. One has to be careful, understanding and always positive when dealing with such situations.

Always remember that there are three aspects that you need to care of: your spouse, yourself and your marriage. All three things need looking after, you cannot simply think that doing everything for your spouse is enough. Take some time out for yourself and make sure that you are not getting sucked into the void of depression either.

Thank you for reading the article. We hope we have provided enough tips and ideas on what you can do. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to write to us.

Getting married is a really exciting time – especially for the couple. If either of them is your granddaughter or grandson, then it’s an especially exciting time. 

You’ve watched them grow up and you saw as they met the person they want to spend the rest of their lives with. So it makes sense that this is a time you want to be involved in. You want to be up close and not just in the background. 

But should the grandparents be?

Sometimes there are questions about who all should be involved in what and when different family members should step in. 

One of the big events at a wedding is the rehearsal dinner, and who should be included in the rehearsal dinner. 

The answer to who should be invited to the rehearsal dinner is: it’s up to the couple. 

What Is a Rehearsal Dinner?

If you haven’t been involved in a lot of weddings, or perhaps weddings from another culture, a rehearsal dinner is the dinner that’s held after the rehearsal the day before the wedding.

Typically there is a rehearsal so that everyone who is involved in the wedding can come together and do a run through of the events that are going to take place the next day. 

After the rehearsal, most of the time the families and those involved in the wedding will attend a dinner together. It can be at a restaurant, although sometimes a family member will host it at their home – depending on the set up of the wedding and the location. 

You might like to read: How To Involve Seniors While Celebrating Festivals and Holidays?

Options for a Rehearsal Dinner

There are many options for couples and their rehearsal dinner, and it is usually in line with the feeling of their wedding. 

If their wedding is going to be small and intimate, then chances are all the events surrounding the wedding are going to be the same. 

If the couple only wants to have close immediate family and their bridal party, then grandparents may not be invited to the dinner. 

On the other hand, if it’s more of a casual event where it’s finger foods and not a plated dinner then there may be more people invited to the dinner. 

There aren’t really any rules about the rehearsal dinner. In fact, many couples are opting not to have one and just everyone go out after and enjoy themselves. 

For couples who are budget conscious or may not have the funds to do so, the rehearsal dinner is often an easy item to cut from the list to save on some cost. 

In some more traditional families, the parents of the couple may decide that they want to pay for it so help ease the cost of the wedding. 

Out-Of-Town Guests

If the couple decides to have a rehearsal dinner, one of the exceptions that is usually made is that guests who have travelled to come to the wedding will be included in the rehearsal dinner. 

This is a nice way to say thank you for making the trip and coming to the wedding. 

If the couple has a destination wedding, where all of the guests are technically from out of town, then this won’t really matter anymore. This rule was traditionally for couples who are getting married close to home and some guests needed to travel to come. 

The Officiant

Depending on how the couple is getting married (religiously or a civil union), there will be a different type of officiant marrying them. 

It’s tradition that the officiant is invited to the rehearsal dinner (if you’re having one). This is a way of showing them a little more about your family, in a relaxed setting and thanking them for marrying you. 

If the couple doesn’t have a rehearsal dinner, then they may just be involved in the rehearsal and the wedding part. It’s really up to the couple how much they want their officiant to be involved in the events that are surrounding the wedding. 

What’s the Point of the Rehearsal Dinner?

Traditionally, this dinner has been a chance for the two sides of the family to get to know each other and spend some time together before the wedding. 

It’s also a chance for those who are in the wedding party to get to know the two families, and everyone enjoy the night before the big day. 

You might like to read: Grandparents and Blended Families

It Should Be About the Couple

When it comes down to it, it’s really up to the couple who they want to invite to the rehearsal dinner. 

If the couple is particularly close with their grandparents or specific members of the family, they can invite whoever they want to join the rehearsal dinner. 

If you want to have more people at the rehearsal so you can be surrounded by those you love most, make the dinner a causal affair and everyone can mingle and chat as they want to. 

This wedding is about merging the two people as a couple, but it’s also about merging two families together. 

So those people that the couple loves most should be included in the rehearsal dinner, and that’s how it should work. 

Cultural Traditions

This wedding may be a blending of two very different cultures, and some of the cultural traditions may be new to you and take some getting used to. 

The new culture may have something different that they do for the rehearsal dinner (or even the ceremony) so there may be a few things that are out of the control of each side of the family. 

The couple will (probably) do their best to blend the two cultures together, and choose the parts that make the most sense and are the most important to the couple, and the family. 

Knowing this, the rehearsal dinner may be a little different than what each side of the family is expecting. 

If this happens, try your best to be open to the new traditions being brought in and the experiences of this culture.

What is the etiquette for how long the rehearsal dinner should go on for?

The rehearsal dinner is the night before a really big day – for everyone. The rehearsal dinner doesn’t have to go on for too long. Just a dinner (either seated or casual foods) and then everyone can mingle or leave as they wish.

For people who have traveled to be at the wedding, they may be a little extra tired and want to make sure they are ready for the big day coming. 

It’s important to make sure that your guests do not enjoy too many drinks the night before so they are prepared for the next day and they are not hung over. 

For this reason, you may wish to only have a certain amount of drinks available to your guests so that they don’t over indulge. 

You might like to read: Healthy Holiday Eating Tips for Seniors (with Infographic)

Can Grandparents Pay For the Rehearsal Dinner?

Traditionally, the groom’s family will be the one who pays for the rehearsal dinner. However, since many weddings today don’t necessarily follow tradition it could be paid for by anyone, really. 

If you want to help your grandchild a little bit and alleviate the costs of having a wedding then you can offer to pay for the rehearsal dinner if you want to.

This could be your gift to them, if you want. You’ve watched your grandchild grow up and it’s such an exciting time for them, so you want to help them out as much as you can and make it a little easier for them to pay for the wedding. 

In Summary

Weddings have changed so much over the last couple decades that there really aren’t any rules anymore. 

Couples are doing their own thing and making the wedding events and ceremony to be exactly what they want. 

There are many couples who do not want to have a big wedding as they are meeting when they’re a little older so they’d rather spend the money on buying a house or traveling. 

Since things are being done a little different, don’t be surprised if they don’t have a rehearsal dinner or even a big wedding. This doesn’t mean they love their families any less, they are just doing what works for them. 

If your grandchild is not having a traditional wedding, in the sense that you would expect, you can still travel to spend some time with them before or after the event. 

If they are eloping they may choose to have a big party afterwards to celebrate with the people they love. 

Be prepared for whatever the couple wants for themselves, and try not to see it as a reflection of you or what you may have wanted for them. 

If you are close to your grandchild, they will probably talk to you and include you in parts of the planning. It’s a really exciting time for everyone, but it’s also a lot of work. 

Try to let your grandchild know that you are there for them, if they need any help, but let them try to do things on their own and try not to explain how you would have done things when you got married. 

In the end, this is a really exciting time for your grandchild! Try to celebrate with them. 

Spending time with your grandchildren is precious. You’re creating memories and bonding in a way that you’ll never have with anyone else. 

Sometimes, though, your children are not prepared to become parents or situations happen where they are deemed unfit for parenting. 

In those cases, what happens? Grandchildren can be placed in temporary care of their grandparents until the situation is resolved. If the situation isn’t resolved, though, or the parents are not able to prove they are fit to be parents the children may be permanently removed from the home. 

Grandparents do not want to see their grandchildren end up in a foster home or be adopted into a family where they may not ever see them again. 

So what can they do? Can grandparents permanently adopt their grandchildren so that they can make sure they are raised among the family they know? 

Yes – grandparents can adopt their grandchildren. There are some conditions, though, and it may not be as simple and straightforward as just signing some adoption papers. 

Here’s what you need to know about adopting your grandchildren when their parents have been found unfit to parent, or their parents have voluntarily given up their parental rights. 

Getting Custody, First

Before permanent adoption can take place, the grandparents must get full custody of the children and it has to be a legally binding agreement. 

This custody can be granted by the courts, or the parents have given up the custody and asked that the grandparents take care of their children. 

It can be very hard for grandparents to get custody of their grandchildren, unless they can prove that their safety is in jeopardy or their welfare is in danger. 

It’s not enough to want custody of the children just because you don’t agree with how the child is being raised – unless there is neglect or abuse. 

Getting custody of your grandchildren is similar to any other custody case. There will be a legal proceeding, either with a mediator or in court. 

If the custody can be determined with mediation then you can save it from going to court and potentially save yourself some legal fees. 

You might also like to read Can Grandparents Claim Grandchildren on Taxes

What Do You Need to Get Custody?

Like any parent would be required to, a grandparent will have to show that they are fit and healthy enough to raise a grandchild. They will also need to fully understand what it is they are taking on. 

There are some medical conditions that could prevent a grandparent from getting custody or even adopting a child. 

Before you go through with starting the process for getting custody, you will probably want to discuss with your lawyer or legal team if anything may be preventing you from getting custody or if you have any specific medical conditions to disclose. 

Do your research before starting this process so that there aren’t any surprises along the way and you are not disqualified from adopting your grandchildren. 

Be Prepared for What This Might Bring 

If your children have not asked you to take custody of their children starting this process could irreparably harm your family. 

By starting the legal process for getting custody of, and ultimately adopting, your grandchildren your children could be hurt and it could really harm the relationship you have with them. 

If the case does not turn out in your favor your children may not want to spend much time with you anymore, and could even stop your grandchildren from spending time with you. 

This is not to deter you from pursuing legal action if you believe your grandchildren are really in danger, are being abused or neglected. If this is the case, you should absolutely make sure they are well cared for and are safe.

Actions of this nature will usually change a family, and it’s important to be prepared for what it will bring as it could get very emotional and messy. 

I have custody of my grandchildren. Can I adopt them now?

Once you are granted custody of your grandchildren – what next? Well that depends on if the custody is temporary or permanent. 

A court may determine that the custody arrangement is temporary so that their parents have time to fix any issues or the cause of why the children were temporarily removed from their care. 

In other cases, there may have been repeat circumstances or the issues are so grave that the court decided permanent custody was to be granted to you. 

For how to proceed with the adoption process, you will need to meet with your lawyer to determine how best to move forward. 

You might also like to read What to Do About Grandparents Who Don’t Care About Their Grandkids

Can I Adopt My Grandchildren Without a Lawyer?

Lawyer’s can be very expensive – we all understand that. 

If you want to, you can complete this process without a lawyer involved. To start you will need to file a petition with your local department of social services. They will have the appropriate paperwork for you to fill out and file. 

Some may find that this process is much smoother with a lawyer involved as they will complete all the paperwork and they understand the process of adoption. 

If you are not intimidated by court-proceedings, you definitely can completely the adoption process without a lawyer. Although it may be easier to complete it with one, if it’s within your budget to do so. 

Can Grandparents Get Custody Over the Father?

If your daughter is a single mother, but the circumstances for the children to stay with their mom isn’t great so she asks you to take care of them. 

A father is no less of a parent than the mother is, so if the grandparents wish to obtain custody over the father of the children they would have to prove that there is a good reason for doing so. 

If one of the parents is shown to be unfit to parent, custody could be granted to the other parent. In those cases, the grandparents on the side of the unfit parent may worry that they won’t get to see their grandchildren. 

When this happens, the grandparents may seek custody of the children so that they can ensure they stay with their family. 

The courts typically want to make sure the children stay with their parents as much as possible. 

Just because you don’t get along with your child’s choice of partner, it is not a good enough reason to try to get custody. 

Generally speaking, the courts will try to keep the children with their mother or father unless there are circumstances that prove the parents are not fit to properly and safely parent the children. 

You might also like to read Grandparents Rights When Parent Is In Jail

Can Grandparents Get Custody From CPS?

Sometimes, children will be removed from the home of their parents by child protective services without the grandparents even knowing about it. 

If the grandparents find out about it, can they get custody of the children when CPS has stepped in? The short answer is, usually, yes. 

In these situations, the grandparents can be granted temporary custody so that it will give the court system more time to determine the best course of action without worrying about placing the children into foster care. 

The courts do want to keep the children with family, so if grandparents can step in to care for the children it can give them a little more comfort to be with family they know. 

The priority of the court is always going to be to reunite the children with their parents, so if they do have to spend time away from them then spending it with family they know is the next best option. 

Can My Grandchildren Be Taken Away From Me Once Adopted?

Generally speaking, the answer to that is no.

If you have been able to legally adopt your grandchildren, then you are now their legal guardian. 

Provided you have been proven fit to be their legal guardian, the adoption is a legal process so you will be the guardian for these children. 

If you have been granted temporary custody of your grandchildren, then the courts will have given the parents the chance to go to counseling to rectify the situation.

If the parents are unable to meet the demands of the court then the court may proceed to give permanent custody to the grandparents, or the other parent if it’s only one parent who was deemed unfit. 

You might also like to read Complete Guide to Grandparents’ Visitation Rights

Final Thoughts

As grandparents, you want the very best for your grandchildren. Sometimes that means that their parents are not the best people to raise them. 

If your child is not fit to be a parent, or is having a difficult time with providing a safe and stable home, it could be in the best interests of your grandchildren for you to have at least temporary custody. 

If you can have your grandchildren come to live with you, and get a legal arrangement in place about custody then it gives your child a chance to remedy the situation and make sure their home is safe for the children to come back to. 

If you have questions about the situation you are experiencing, you should always contact your lawyer or legal team before making any big decisions to make sure it’s the right action. 

The school your child attends can make a big impact on the rest of their education, and even their lives. 

As much as you may love the neighborhood you live in, the schools in other areas may offer better educational options for your children. In some cases, the grandparents may also provide a lot of before and after school care so having a school close to them can make drop off and pick up easier. 

If you want your child to attend the school in their grandparent’s district there are a few ways you can do this, without having to sell your own house and move into another area. 

Residency Requirements

Every state, and even every school district, will have their own residency requirements as to who can attend the school if they don’t live in the area. 

The good news is that many states do not require a care giver (like a grandparent) to have legal custody of the child to enroll in the school in the area. 

The bad news is that those same school districts may also require the child to be in the school district for a legitimate purpose. In other words, they cannot be in the district just to go to that school. 

In some cases, the school will require the care giver to provide legal documentation that they are the guardian or they have legal custody of the child in order for them to enroll in the school. 

Why Do Schools Have Residency Requirements?

As mentioned, there are some schools that have better educational opportunities or they may have a specialized program you want your child to participate in. 

Schools created residency requirements to prevent parents and families from, essentially, shopping for the best school to send their children to and only have the children living in that area during the week but not actually living there full time. 

While these requirements do prevent parents and families from abusing the education system, and sending all kids to one school, it can also discriminate against certain family set ups and care givers. 

As a by-product of requiring legal documentation showing that a care giver has full-time custody or is the legal guardian of a child, they are discriminating against children who are being raised by their family members without a legal agreement in place.

Educational Consent Laws

The government has taken some steps to help care givers who are raising children without a legal agreement or custody arrangement in place. 

One of these steps is what’s known as educational consent laws. These laws allow for caregivers without legal custody to enroll the children in their care in the local school, tuition free. 

The catch to this law is that the caregiver has to sign an affidavit – under a penalty of perjury – that they are the primary caregiver of the child and that the child lives with them the majority of the time. 

Child’s Legal Residency

Some states have introduced laws that basically state a child’s residency follows them, and not their parents. So that if the child is being raised by a family member or another care giver, the child becomes a legal resident of that area as soon as they move there.

The important part here, as with other laws, is that the child does actually have to live in the area as opposed to just having grandparents who live there. 

Special Education Laws

If your child requires special or accessible education, then you may be able to have them enroll in a school in another district without signing over custody or filling out an affidavit. 

The government does its best to ensure that those children who need specialized education, which is not available in every school district, are able to access it without forcing parents to move. 

Grandparents Provide Before and After School Care

School districts in Texas have a very unique law in place that states if the grandparents provide a substantial amount of before and after school care for the child then the child can enroll in the school in their district. 

In order for the child to be registered in the school within their grandparent’s district, it will still need to be reviewed by the school board. 

Additionally, the family will have to show that the grandparents do provide a substantial amount of the care for the children and there is a need for them to enroll in the school in that district. 

This law just makes it a little easier for parents to arrange for care for their child without worrying about drop off and pick up will work. 

Can I Just Say My Children Live With Their Grandparents or Use Their Address?

If you use the address of the grandparents when enrolling in school, you run a big risk of the school board finding out. 

In some states, using a false address is a crime and you can be fined for knowingly giving the wrong address when registering your child for school. 

If the school board finds out that you lied about the address your children live at, they could be expelled from the school and you could be given a very large fine for doing this. 

It may not be worth the risk to do this. 

Does the School Actually Check the Address of the Students?

The answer to this is still a bit unclear, and it may change from district to district. Some school boards may not have the time or resources to really verify that all of their students live where they say they do. 

For most school boards, they will register students with the address given by the parents and won’t worry about it until they are given a reason to investigate it further. 

Additionally, some school boards may do random checks over the course of the school year to make sure that students live where they say they do. 

So if you register your child with an address that you don’t actually live at, you are running a big risk of being found out unless you know for sure the school your child is going to does not do any verification, or you have special circumstances.

How Do Schools Check the Address? 

There are a few ways the school can check for a fake address, or even one that the child doesn’t actually live at. 

The process will usually include the following steps 

1. The school will construct a panel of individuals they trust – could be persons in the community or parents that have been involved in the school for a long time. This panel will go through about 10% of applications to try and identify anyone who has given a false address. 
2. The school will create a template or process for other students and parents to reveal families they believe may be lying about their address. 
3. Officials at the school will typically investigate any families who change their address within one year of enrolling in the school, and try to find out if their initial address was fake.

All parents want the very best educational opportunities for their children, but in some cases they just can’t live in the right neighborhood or maybe afford a house in the district of the school they want their child to attend. 

There are some states where specialized circumstances have allowed for parents to easily enroll their child into a school outside their area. If your child has special education needs or a school has a really specialized program then you may be able to apply for special consideration. 

In order to make sure your child’s education is as consistent as possible, make sure you know the rules about the school districts in the state you live in. 

You may have options for having grandparents as surrogate parents as well, although that can involve signing over the custody of your children. 

The best thing you can do, if you want to have your children going to a specific school, is to purchase a home in the district you want to be in. 

This is not always going to be easy, as sometimes houses in the most desirable school districts are much more expensive and hard to get – they almost never go up for sale. 

If your children are not quite school age you have some time to consider your options, and you don’t have to decide right away. 

In order to make sure your children do not have an expulsion on their record, it may be safest to register them in the school district that you live in right now. If you decide, in a couple years, that you want to move or buy a new house then they may be able to transfer and you can get them into the school you want. 

For those lucky few who live in Texas, they have grandparent special circumstances where you can enroll your child in the school district of their grandparents when they provide significant care of the child. 

Make sure you know the rules of your area and the school district you want to enroll your child in before you commit a fraudulent act. 

Taking on the responsibility of raising your grandchildren can be emotionally and financially draining. 

It’s not that you don’t want to care for your grandchildren – you love them and want the absolute best for them. Children, though, can have many medical expenses and they can really add up – which can be financially difficult. 

As grandparents will most likely be retired when they take full custody of their grandchildren, they likely won’t have the option to get private employer benefits that can help their grandchildren. 

With that in mind, there are few options for getting medical insurance for when your grandchildren need medical care. 

If you are on Medicaid, you may be considering adding the grandchildren you’re the legal guardian for to your Medicaid plan. 

But can you?

Here’s what you need to know about grandparents who need to get Medicaid and other assistance for their grandchildren. 

Make Sure You Have Legal Custody, First 

If you are not the legal guardian of the children, you will need to get custody to make sure you can make decisions for them in the event of a medical emergency. 

Whether it’s temporary permanent, ensuring there is a custody agreement in place is important for when medical and other important decisions need to be made. 

Check With Other Insurance Providers 

If the children are not covered by a parent’s benefits, it’s important to make sure you get them some type of medical insurance. 

If you are still employed, and are not yet retired, you can check into your work benefits to see if it is an option to add them into your benefits. 

If you are already retired, you may need to investigate programs like Medicaid or CHIP to make sure they will be cared for as needed. 

What is Medicaid and CHIP?

The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) provides free or low-cost medical healthcare coverage to Americans across the country. 

This can include those who would be considered low-income, but you do not have to be considered low-income to have your children or grandchildren qualify for this program. 

Even if you haven’t qualified for Medicaid based on your income – even in retirement – you should still consider applying for CHIP for your grandchildren when they come into your care. 

The good news is that you can apply for this program at any time of the year, there isn’t an open enrollment period. 

NOTE – the names for Medicaid and CHIP programs can vary from state to state, so it’s important to make sure you know the name of the program for the state you live in so you can apply for the right program. 

How to Apply for Medicaid and CHIP

There are a couple different ways to apply for these programs to make sure your grandchild has the right amount of medical care they need – in case of emergencies. 

1. Fill out an application through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Once you do this, if it looks like you will qualify for the Medicaid program then your information will be sent over to your state agency. They will contact you about enrolling in the program and what you need to do. When you fill out the application, you’ll also find out if your grandchildren qualify for an insurance plan that’s income based, for savings based on your income. 
2. Apply directly through your state’s Medicaid agency. 

What Do I Need to Know About CHIP?

In all states across the country, CHIP is a program that covers healthcare for a low-cost to families whose income is too high to qualify for Medicaid. There are some states where CHIP may even cover pregnant women. 

This program is closely linked with Medicaid and is often run by the same state agency. 

In most cases, if you qualify for or are already on Medicaid then your grandchildren – who you are the legal guardian of – will also qualify for the CHIP program. 

What Does CHIP Cover?

If you’re worried about the kind of coverage you’re going to get for your grandchildren with CHIP, you don’t need to. There’s a good amount of coverage available for many medical procedures and appointments, including 

• Regular doctor’s visits 
• Prescriptions
• Immunizations and vaccines 
• Dental care
• Vision care 
• X-ray services 
• Bloodwork
• Emergency care services 

Is There Any Cost at All for CHIP Medical Services?

Dental visits and the routine “well-child” check-ups are completely free under this program, there could be copayments for other medical services prescribed under this plan. 

In some states, the state itself will charge a monthly premium for CHIP coverage. The monthly cost will vary from state to state, however the highest cost for coverage in any state has been 5% of the family’s annual income. 

What Is the Income Level Needed to Qualify for CHIP?

Like Medicaid, the income level to qualify for this program does vary from state to state. 

In the states that have expanded Medicaid, you can qualify for it based solely on your income. However in states that do not have the expanded Medicaid, you’ll need to qualify based on your state’s existing rules. 

The existing rules also vary, but they do take into account factors other than just income. Most existing state rules consider income along with the size of the household, family status (like if there is a pregnancy or young child), if there’s a disability and the age of all members of the household. 

In states that don’t have expanded Medicaid, and because all the rules are so different, there’s no real way to know if you qualify for this program without filling out an application. 

What if You’ve Been Declined for Medicaid or CHIP?

Even if, as a grandparent, you are retired you may still have an income that is too high to qualify for either of these programs. 

If that’s the case, there are some alternative options for making sure your grandchildren have the right medical coverage to take care of them. 

There are private medical insurance plans that can be purchased, and you can even qualify for savings and discounts on these insurance plans based on the income you make. 

Many families can get these plans – which are very comprehensive – for as little as $75/month. 

For states that have expanded Medicaid and CHIP, the state agency will send you a notice explaining that you do not qualify for these programs but they will also send your information on to private insurance companies who will contact you to explain how to submit an application. 

If you live in a state that doesn’t have the expanded Medicaid plans, your options for insurance are fewer but you can still get private insurance for an affordable amount. 

In states without this, there may not be savings on private insurance based on income so you may have to pay a little more or change the amount of coverage your grandchildren have but it is still possible to get the coverage. 

Other Forms of Assistance for Grandparents Who Are Caring for Their Grandchildren

Relative caregivers can received assistance from various organizations across the country to help with the costs of raising their grandchildren. 

The Administration for Children and Families has resources available for relative caregivers to ensure they are able to get the support they need. 

Every state will have their own resources as very few of them are federally funded, so you will need to review the options available to you in the state you live in. 

The website grandfamilies.org is a collaboration of organizations across the country whose main focus is to help families with a relative caregiver. They have a database called GrandFacts. 

This database is full of links to contacts, support groups, educational assistance funds, public benefits and even help with relevant laws for families who are raising children that are not biologically yours. 

Most states offer 2-1-1, which is a free social services hotline. This hotline connects callers to a wide range of resources in the community – including assistance benefits and basic services the children may need. 

Final Thoughts

When you take on caring for your grandchildren, it can be a very overwhelming and uncertain time. 

There are many resources available to relative caregivers who can help them with raising the children. 

Medical expenses can add up so quickly – especially if you don’t have insurance, or the proper insurance needed. 

For children that have an ongoing medical condition, or even experience just one medical incident, caregivers can feel overwhelmed and not sure how they’re going to afford caring for them. 

Being a relative caregiver – with or without a legal arrangement – brings on unique challenges so if you have the ability to ease the worry about medical concerns then CHIP is a great option. 

If your income is too high to qualify for CHIP, the are other resources that can help find insurance plans that work with your budget and will ensure your grandchildren have the medical coverage they need. 

If you have questions about coverage, or how to start the process for applying then contacting your state agency is a good start. They can work with you to make sure you apply for the right programs. 

There are many write offs and income tax benefits when it comes to caring for and raising children, but usually it’s thought of for the parents to utilize these benefits. 

Can grandparents claim various tax credits? Yes – they can. 

There are various circumstances in which grandparents can claim their grandchildren on their taxes, and some situations may apply while others don’t. The important part is to figure out which areas work for you and which ones don’t. 

Let’s Start at the Beginning

Grandparents are able to claim their grandchildren on their taxes as dependents, provided that they meet the dependency requirements. 

As an added bonus, even if your grandchildren do not meet the dependency requirements grandparents could still claim them if they meet the qualifying relative criteria. 

Can Grandparents Claim Grandchildren Instead of the Parents?

The short answer to this question is yes. 

Now if you are married but filing separate returns from your spouse, you can claim them individually. However, if you file joint tax returns then your partner can also claim the grandchildren on their tax returns. 

This means that both of you, as grandparents, can claim your grandchildren on your taxes instead of their parents. This situation only applies, though, if you are the responsible adult for raising the children. 

You could have been appointed custody of your grandchildren via a court proceeding or the parents have voluntarily relinquished their parents rights. No matter how it happened, as long as you are the legal guardian of the children you can claim them on your taxes. 

What Are the Requirements to Claim Grandchildren on Your Taxes?

When a grandchild is a dependent, you can claim them on your income taxes as such. 

As long as your grandchild is a qualifying dependent, you will be able to claim them. So, what makes them a qualifying dependent?

In order to be qualifying as a dependent, they must meet the following requirements 

• They are related to you by law or blood either through birth, legal adoption or marriage
• They must be younger than you (and your partner, if filing jointly) 
• They cannot be claimed by another person as a dependent, unless that person is your spouse and you file your tax returns jointly 
• They have to live with you for at least 6 months out of the year, unless there has been a reason that is approved by the IRS
• They have to receive more than half their support from you for the year you’re filing taxes for 

There is another category for claiming grandchildren on your taxes. This category is known as being a qualifying relative. 

The criteria to meet this category is as follows 

• They must live in your house for the whole year, or legally or blood-related to you 
• They must have earned less than $4,300 for the tax year that you want to claim them on your taxes 
• They must receive at least 50% of their support from you 
• They must be a US resident

Why Claim Your Grandchild on Your Taxes?

When you’re helping to raise your grandchildren, or maybe you’re completely raising them on your own, there are a lot of benefits and tax write-offs that can help financially – even a little bit. 

If you are raising them, you should receive the benefits of doing so to help with that. There are numerous tax credits you could be eligible for, like the ones listed below. 

Child Tax Credit 

This benefit is available to families where the children have social security numbers. 

For grandparents claiming their eligible grandchildren, they could get up to $3,000 per child over 6 years old and up to $500 more per child if they are under 6. 

This credit is applicable to all children who are under 18 years old. However, for families to be earning this credit, there is an upper maximum on the amount of income they can earn. 

Depending on your filing status, the income cut off will be between $75,000 and $150,000 annually. 

Child and Dependent Care Credit 

If you spend money caring for your grandchildren then you could also be eligible for this tax credit. 

This credit can give up to $8,000 for one qualifying dependent per year, or up to $16,000 for two or more qualifying dependents. 

Like many other tax credits, there is an income cut off where you can no longer receive this credit. In order to qualify for this one, your gross-adjusted income must be less than $438,000 annually. 

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)

The EITC is usually available for low- and middle-income families. You can qualify for this tax credit if you are raising your grandchildren – even if you are over the age of 65. 

In order for you to be eligible for the EITC, your grandchildren must meet the qualifying criteria for a dependent or relative. Additionally, you must have earned some kind of income, either as an employee or a self-employed individual. 

Finally, even if you don’t owe anything on your taxes you must have filed a tax return to get this credit. 

Medical Expenses Deduction 

When it comes to taking care of your grandchildren, the medical expenses can really start to add up – especially if there is an ingoing condition requiring treatment. 

If the amount you spend in medical expenses exceeds 10% of your adjusted gross income then you may be able to have a write-off. Now, you’ll only be able to write off the amount that is over and above that 10% threshold, so you can still write something off but not all the expenses. 

In order to really get this advantage, though, you will need to make sure you keep track of the medical expenses involved for your grandchild. Itemize absolutely everything, and keep all receipts and bills. 

Educational Tax Breaks

Getting an education can set up your grandchildren for a really fantastic life, and you want the very best things for your grandchildren. 

If you have taken out a loan to help them pay for their education, you can use this on your taxes. 

Each year, you can deduct up to $2,500 of the interest paid on that loan provided your gross adjusted income is less than $80,000 (or $160,000 if filing jointly).

There are two different educational tax credits: The American Opportunity Tax Credit and The Lifetime Learning Credit. 

You cannot use both of these credits in the same tax year, so it’s important to determine which one will benefit you the most. One of the best things about these two credits is that they phase out at higher incomes so there’s more room to be able to use them. 

Additionally, tuition, books and other supplies can all count towards these credits. 

There are different situations that apply to these credits, which is why it’s in your best interest to take some time and figure out which one you would benefit most from before trying to use one of them. 

Additionally, if you contribute towards a 529 for your grandchildren this can help you too. This education savings plan can be tax-deductible for your state level taxes. 

These plans give you the benefit of tax-free growth on any investment you make as well as tax-free withdrawals your grandchildren will benefit from when it comes time for them to go to school. 

In Summary

Raising children is expensive, no matter who is raising them. From clothing to food, medical expenses and extracurricular activities – all of it can add up so quickly. 

For grandparents raising their grandchildren, their working years are over – or at least the majority of their working years are over. Their income may be limited an they want to make sure they have enough to survive for the remainder of their life. 

This isn’t to say they don’t want to raise their grandchildren, or that they don’t love them. 

If parents can get tax deductions and benefits from raising their children, why shouldn’t grandparents if they are the ones raising them?

It’s important to remember that children can only be dependents for one person (or spouses if you’re filing jointly), so if your adult children are claiming them then you cannot. 

However, if you are legally the guardian for these children it is you who should be claiming them as dependents or relatives. 

For tax planning purposes, you may want to have a discussion with your accountant to make sure you’re getting the most out of these benefits. 

Accountants know the laws, and can also help make sure that you have what you need and you qualify for that various tax credits. 

Raising your grandchildren can be really difficult: you’ve already raised your own children and you were looking forward to enjoying your retirement years. With the right financial planning and tax planning you can make sure you make the most of the credits available to you. 

Make an appointment with your accountant and financial planner, and check in regularly to make sure you know exactly what’s going on. New tax credits come out all the time so it’s very possible that there will be something available this year that wasn’t last year. 

There is something so special and amazing about the relationship between grandparents and their grandchildren. Some of children’s best memories come from helping grandma to bake or grandpa showing them how to ride their bike. 

Spending more time with your grandchildren can help to strengthen that bond even more, and create so many happy and special memories. 

Some parents, and even grandparents, may be asking when children are ok to stay overnight with their grandparents. 

Generally speaking, there is no firm timeline. It really depends on what the parents and grandparents are comfortable with. 

When Is It Safe for Grandchildren to Stay Overnight With Their Grandparents?

Many parents are protective of their new babies, and so they have a hard time letting go of them – even for a little while. 

Being a new parent can be really exhausting, but letting them go for even a couple hours can also feel overwhelming. 

As long as the grandparents feel safe and comfortable with having the baby or grandchildren at their house (or watching them at their own house) without the parents present. 

That is a discussion that grandparents and parents will need to have with each other so that they are both communicating what they feel comfortable with – and what they don’t, for that matter. 

COVID and Sleepovers With Grandparents

The last two years has proven to be really trying on relationships – especially close family members who can’t spend a lot of time together. 

You may be wondering when it will be safe for grandparents to have their grandchildren overnight with all the safety risks of COVID-19. 

When children are in school, they are exposed to so many different germs and bacteria. 

For grandparents, who may have a weakened immune system or may be more susceptible to illness this can be really scary and even a little dangerous. 

If you’re the children are old enough to get vaccinated, you may choose to vaccinate your children to help reduce the risk of exposure for their grandparents. 

Ultimately this is a decision that should be left up to the parents and grandparents because the comfort level is up to those two to decide how best to proceed. 

If there’s been an outbreak at the child’s school then be careful in sending them to spend time with their grandparents or keep them home until the outbreak has been cleared up. 

If the grandparents feel it’s safe to visit and the parents are comfortable with it, then there is no reason grandchildren can’t have a sleepover at their grandparents house. 

How to Make Sure Grandchildren Have Fun While They Are Sleeping Over

Making sure that your grandchildren have a good time while they are spending time at your house, or sleeping over, is an important thing for most grandparents. 

Grandparents want to know that their grandchildren had fun while spending time with their grandparents. There are a few ways you can make sure they have a good time, and will want to come back for more sleepovers.

Fun Treats

One of the best parts of being a grandparent is all the ways you can spoil them, and give them the yummy treats their parents don’t give to them normally. 

Each child will have their own favorite treat, so make sure that you have their favorite treats available when they come over. 

From fresh popcorn while watching a movie to baking some sweet treats together when they come over – whatever it is that your grandchildren enjoys make sure that you have it available when they come over. 

As long as the treats you are giving them are not ones that the parent is adamantly against (we still have to respect the parents) let them have this as a little time away from home, to enjoy some goodies. 

What a Movie 

If there is a movie your grandchildren keep mentioning, or maybe a new movie out that you think they will enjoy, this could be a great activity for you to enjoy together. 

If you have streaming services in your home, ask them what movie they want to watch (from a list of age-appropriate options, of course) and enjoy the movie together. 

Most of the time, children want someone to spend time with them and show them that they matter. Physically spending time together – like watching a movie – can give your grandchildren some wonderful memories of their grandparents. 

Something to Remind Them of Home

While you are their grandparents, so you’re family, your house is just not the same as their house – no matter how much time they spend there. 

If possible, try to make your home feel a little more like home for your grandchildren and give them some ultimate comfort in sleeping over. 

Children can have homesickness at any time, no matter how older they are. It tends to be much more prominent in children who are younger or if it’s the first time spending a night somewhere other than their house. 

Before your grandchildren pack their bags to come to your house, talk to them or their parents about bringing something from home to help remind them of home. 

This could be a stuffed animal to sleep with or maybe their own pillow. Whatever it is, bringing something that reminds them of home can make their first sleepover away from home a little easier. 

Stick To Their Normal Routines, as Much as Possible

It can be really fun to stay up late at grandmas, watching movies and snacking on yummy treats. However, for young children this can make it really difficult when they go back to their parents and regular routines. 

For as much as possible, try to stick to their normal routines. If you know that your grandchildren normally go to bed around 8 or 8:30, try to not extend their bedtime much past that. 

For young children, especially, staying on their routine is really important. In order to help their parents when they come back home, try not to deviate too much from their routines when they’re at their house. 

Don’t Be Surprised if You Start Feeling Younger 

Spending a lot of time with your grandchildren can give grandparents a new lease on life, and they just might start to feel younger. 

There is no doubt that grandchildren benefit immensely from spending time with their grandparents, and all the memories they will create. There is also research to show that grandparents can benefit from spending time with their grandchildren, and it can give them a new lease on life. 

Children are a lot of energy – both mentally and physically. Spending time with your grandchildren will have you staying active (both mentally and physically) and that can really benefit grandparents as they age. 

It Can Be a Shock

When your children have all grown up and moved out of your home, it’s a big shock to have your little grandchildren running around your home again. 

You’re probably used to quiet and clean, and everything being just the way you want it to be. 

Children – especially young ones – can be a huge shock when they’re sleeping over as it can be much more loud and active around the house than you’re used to. 

It’s important to remember that it’s going to be an adjustment for your grandchildren and for you at the same time. So if you’re feeling overwhelmed, it’s very natural and can take some getting used to. 

As mentioned, you can ask your grandchildren to bring a few things from home that makes it more familiar to them and it can help the night go by much easier and make bedtime quick and without any breakdowns. 

Making Your Memories

Your grandchildren will grow up so quickly, and it will feel like almost no time at all between when they were first born and as they become teenagers.

While having your grandchildren for sleepovers can be a whirlwind, you’re also creating wonderful memories that no one will ever be able to replace. 

They will remember when they spent time baking cookies at grandmas or grandpa was outside watching as they learned how to skateboard or climb a tree.

These years are important and you having sleepovers with your grandchildren will bring you happy memories for years to come. 

When you’re hesitant about having your grandchildren sleep over

If you don’t feel comfortable or safe having your grandchildren for sleepovers – that’s totally ok. Perhaps you have a medical condition and you want to make sure you can properly care for them. 

Additionally, you may feel more comfortable if they are over a certain age before they come for a sleepover. All of these things are ok, though. 

It’s important to have these conversations with your children and let them know how you feel about it, and what your concerns are. 

You may only feel comfortable having them for a few hours while parents go out to dinner. Whatever your comfort level is, discuss that openly and don’t be afraid to let them know what your concerns are. 

It’s better to have open conversations than to have an incident happen that could have been completely preventable. 

Enjoy these memories and time with your grandchildren – you can’t replace it with anything else! 

A study of sexual harassment statistics shows that the number of reported cases of sexual harassment have remained almost the same in 2020 as they were in 2012.

Even with all the advances our society has made, Sexual harassment is one of the most underreported crimes in the US. While the scenario has changed over the last few decades,  and the situation is not as bad as it used to be, there is still a lot left to do.

EEOC, or Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, defines sexual harassment as requests for favors of sexual nature, other physical or verbal advances of sexual nature, and unwelcome sexual advances either in a school or a workplace.

The word ‘unwelcome’ does not translate to involuntary, as depending upon their circumstances, a victim may agree to the sexual advances even though they find it offensive. ^[1]

With societal stigma, many people are still unwilling to report sexual harassment. This exacerbates an already bad situation. The actual figures can vary drastically from the statistics that we have uncovered, but we believe even these are enough for people to sit up and take notice.

Some Key Facts About Sexual Harassment

• According to EEOC, 11,497 charges of sex-based harassment were filed in the fiscal year 2020, including charges of sexual harassment allegations. 6,587 charges of sexual harassment allegations were filed in the fiscal year 2020, out of which males filed 16.8 percent of the charges.  ^[2]
• According to the combined data from FEPAs and EEOC, 11,364 charges of sexual harassment were filed in the fiscal year 2011, out of which 16.3 percent of the charges were filed by males. Thus, it seems that the situation has not much changed in the last ten years^[3]
• According to a poll in March 2019, 70% of women consider workplace sexual harassment as a major problem, but only 53% of men agree with them. ^[6]
• The percentage of women in the previous survey who say they were sexually harassed is 48% which is 6% more than in the year 2017. About 61% of women and 46% of men feel that people are not sensitive enough about the sexual harassment problem in the workplace. ^[6]

Sexual Harassment And Sexual Assault Statistics

Forms of Sexual Harassment

• According to the survey of  non-profit organizations Stop Street harassment and Raliance, in the year 2018, about 81% of women and 43% of men have undergone some form of harassment of sexual nature in their lifetime. ^[5]
• According to the same survey in 2018, the most common form of sexual harassment women face is verbal sexual harassment which is about 77%. The second most common sexual harassment that women face is unwelcome sexual touch. About 51%, 41% of women face cyber sexual harassment, 34% of being followed by someone physically, 30% of women face unwanted flashing of genitals, and sexual assault, which is 27%. ^[5]
• About 34% of males faced verbal sexual harassment making it the most common type of sexual harassment. Cyber sexual harassment comes second with 22%, 17% of men met unwelcome sexual touch,12% of men were followed by someone physically, 12% of unwanted flushing of genitals, and about 7% faced sexual assault. ^[5]

Sexual Harassment and Disability

• Disabled men and women are more likely to experience sexual harassment and assault. According to a report, 69% of women with a disability and 59% without a disability have experienced sexual harassment. ^[5]
• 40% of disabled women have experienced sexual assault, while 23% of women who have no disability have experienced sexual assault. ^[5]
• 39% of men with disability and 23% of men without a disability have experienced sexual harassment. ^[5]
• 18% of men with a disability and 4% of men without a disability experienced sexual assault. ^[5]

Sexual Harassment and LGBTQ

• Women and men from the LGBT community are more likely to experience sexual assault. 48% of bisexual or lesbian women have experienced sexual assault, while 25% of straight women experienced sexual assault. 
• 42% man from the LGBT community and 25% of straight men experienced sexual harassment. About 19 % of men from the LGBT community and 6% of straight men experienced sexual assault. ^[5]

Sexual Harassment and Poverty

• 36% of women and 16% of men who live below the poverty level are more likely to experience sexual assault. ^[5]

Sexual Harassment by Location

• 66% of women have been sexually harassed in public places, 38% of women at work, and 35% at their residence. 19% of men were sexually harassed in a public place, 14% in their school, and 13% in their workplace. ^[5]
• 29% of women and 17% of men report residence or private home as where they first experienced sexual harassment or assault. 37% of women and 29% main reported a public space as the location where they first experienced sexual harassment or assault. ^[5]
• According to AAU, the Association of American Universities’s survey on sexual assault and misconduct on campus, about 13% of the students claim to have faced sexual harassment. ^[8]

Who Harasses Whom?

• One or more men have sexually harassed 85% of women and 44% of men. One or more women have sexually harassed about 30% of men and 3% of women. ^[5]
• The perpetrator in the case of sexual harassment is most likely a stranger, and in the case of sexual assault, it is someone known, whether a family member, friend, or partner ^[5]
• Women of age 25 to 34 are more likely to experience sexual harassment as compared to other age groups. Men within the age group 25 to 49 are more likely to experience sexual harassment. ^[5]

Sexual Harassment by Age

• About 57% of women said that they experienced sexual harassment and assault by 17. 37% of women reported the first experience of sexual harassment at the age of 14 to 17 years old. 
• About 42% of men said that they experienced sexual harassment and assault by the age of 17. 20% of men reported the first experience of sexual harassment at the age of 14 to 17 years old. ^[5]
• 71% of women and 57% of men experienced their first sexual harassment or assault by the age of 22 years old. ^[5]

Sexual Harassment in Recent Years & By Generation

• About one-eighth of all women and men who have experienced sexual harassment or assault have faced it in the last six months. ^[5]
• According to a YouGov survey, every 6 in 10 women admit to being sexually harassed by a man, with the harassment happening in the past five years to one-third of these women. About 16% of men admit to being sexually harassed by men, with just 7% reporting that the harassment happened in the past five years. ^[7]
• According to a survey, 9% of women of the baby boomer generation, 28% of the Gen X generation, and 38% of millennials have been victims of sexual harassment. ^[7]
• About 52% of the women interviewed by YouGov said that someone commented on their attractiveness while speaking to them, 44% said that someone said sexual jokes to them, 39% said that someone cat-called them, and 46% had their breasts looked upon. According to the same survey, just 43% of men consider looking at women’s breasts sexual harassment. ^[7]

How People Respond to Experiencing Sexual Assault or Harassment

• 23% of females and 12% of males diverted their regular route or routine when they experienced sexual harassment or assault. ^[5]
• Approximately 5% of females and 2.5% of males stopped an activity or hobby or participating in religious groups or communities after facing sexual harassment or assault. ^[5]
• 15% of females and 12% of males choose to end a friendship or relationship after facing sexual harassment or assault. ^[5]
• Less than 2% of females and approximately 1% of males opt to change or drop out of school or university or leave a course after facing sexual harassment or assault. ^[5]
• 31% of females and 20% of males experienced anxiety or depression after they faced sexual harassment or assault. ^[5]
• Less than 2% of females and males confronted the perpetrator after they faced sexual harassment or assault. ^[5]
• About 9% of women and 5% of men either quit or change their job after facing sexual harassment or assault. ^[5]
• Nearly 5% of women and 2% of men moved from their residence after sexual harassment or assault. ^[5]
• Approximately 7% of women and 4% of men took medical help, including counseling, after facing sexual harassment or assault. ^[5]

Sexual Harassment : How Many People Report It?

• According to the American psychological association, in organizations with women in senior positions, 56% of employees who have undergone sexual harassment and 55% of employees who witnessed sexual harassment will report it, and 53% of employees are likely to confront a coworker who is sexually harassing someone else.  ^[4]
• While in organizations with men in senior positions, 39% of employees will report sexual harassment happening to them, 41% will report sexual harassment if they witnessed it, and 34% will confront a coworker who is sexually harassing someone else. ^[4]
• At organizations that have taken steps to address sexual harassment, about 90% of employees said their psychological health was in good condition. 76% said their employer offers resources to help them with their mental health, and 63% said their employer provides resources for stress management. 86% of employees are highly satisfied with their job, 89% are motivated for the best performance, and 79% recommend their organization as a good workplace. ^[4]
• With people becoming aware of sexual harassment and the Me Too movement, employees are becoming more open to reporting it. About 50% of workers in the USA will report sexual harassment if they ever experience it, 51% if the witness hit, and about 47% will confront a coworker who is sexually harassing someone. ^[4]

A Few Final Words

Sexual harassment is a serious issue that is undermined by many. People experiencing and witnessing it are too scared to speak up. While doing my research, I became aware of facts that I would never have expected.

I hope reading the facts about sexual harassment was an eye-opener for you and made you aware of the topic.

References

• [1] Sexual Harassment | US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• [2] Sexual Harassment Charges EEOC & FEPAs Combined: FY 1997 – FY 2011 | US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• [3] Charges Alleging Sex-Based Harassment (Charges filed with EEOC) FY 2010 – FY 2020 | US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
• [4] https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2018/05/employers-sexual-harassment
• [5] Full-Report-2018-National-Study-on-Sexual-Harassment-and-Assault.pdf
• [6] US Men Less Concerned Than in 2017 About Sexual Harassment
• [7] Six in ten women say they’ve been sexually harassed by a man | YouGov[8] AAU Releases 2019 Survey on Sexual Assault and Misconduct

Are you dating someone with a traumatic brain injury? If yes, read this article to learn more about how to cause the stress, emotions, and pain that you might go through

1.5 mn Americans go through the pain of a traumatic brain injury each year. A TBI significantly alters the life of the victim, but it also impacts those who are close to him, especially to a person who was dating them prior to the injury.

After a traumatic brain injury, many couples notice that the relationship changes dramatically. The changes are very emotional and difficult for the couple. In this article, we will share some facts about the common changes in a relationship after a traumatic brain injury. 

A traumatic brain injury can cause a lot of pain and stress to the existing relationships of the patient. But, there are certain things that couples can do in the relationship to keep their relationship alive and happy. 

Traumatic Brain Injury And Couples Relationship

Dating someone with a traumatic brain injury can significantly affect the couple’s relationship. There are different levels of brain injury: severe and minor injuries. 

Milder injuries do not result in long-term relationship changes among the couples. However, after a severe brain injury, the survivor and their partner will be affected in various aspects of their lives. 

Some of these changes could be: 

• A change in relationship roles
• Challenges in communication 
• Dealing with fear related to the incident due to which the injury occurred 
• Changes in behavioral traits of the victim. 

Due to these challenges, you might suddenly feel that you are married to a complete stranger! Secondly, the burden of responsibility of the family certainly shifts towards the victim’s spouse at least for some time, since the victims themselves are dealing with their own issues.

After the injury, there are multiple changes in the survivor’s personality and life. The partner ends up in a situation where they simply don’t know what to expect and how to respond to situations. This uncertainty can further lead to anxiety and tension In the relationship. 

Relationship Changes: Responsibilities

After a traumatic brain injury, the survivor must incorporate time for learning new skills and working on improving their health in their daily routine. 

This means that there is a two-fold change in the partner’s workload: you are helping the victim to cope with the new changes, while at the same time taking a fair share of their workload in life, which now takes secondary precedence.

How do added responsibilities change the person? 

• Survivors may not carry out all the responsibilities, including household chores and expectations while working to cope with their problems. They may not be able to carry out things like yard work or taking out the dog. 
• The partners who have more responsibilities will have less time for themselves and others. On the other hand, the survivor will feel like they have a lot of time and won’t be occupied. This can result in different expectations between the partners of spending time together. 
• Along with the stress of recovery of a person, handling multiple responsibilities can increase the tension between both partners.

What are the tips to improve relationship issues due to the changes in the responsibilities of couples: 

• Talking to each other can reduce stress. Try to be more understanding about the responsibilities of each other, and this can lead to a positive growth impact in the relationship. It is ok to focus on oneself; however, one must take effort and responsibility to understand each other’s feelings and challenges. 
• Say thank you and make a commitment about yourself. Try to understand that this situation shall pass, and you can overcome the problem of managing the commitments. 
• Try to plan out things and opportunities to take a break from the responsibilities of a person. When couples and family members plan a day out, try to build understanding and a strong bond.

Communication

Communication is known to be the basic foundation of a relationship. Many people think of talking with the person when they hear the communication. 

But communicating is giving emotional reactions, gestures, facial expressions, and physical interactions. After a traumatic brain injury, the biggest thing people notice is the communication difference in the people. 

For spouses: 

• Various responsibilities and uncertainty of recovery can cause you to be overwhelmed. When people are overwhelmed, their communication patterns and style change. Some common changes are talking less and communicating less intensely with the partner.
• Sometimes the partner may not understand how to behave with the person, becoming unsure about it. This may lead to less communication among them. 

What are the changes which happen due to less communication in the couples?

• Lack of communication between the partners may lead to isolation and loneliness between them. They may not understand the feelings of each other and what they want to convey.
• Difficulty in communication can put them away from each other. Sometimes they do not share the challenges they are facing with anyone. They may share the pressure and anxiety with other family members who are friends.
• Struggling with communication can affect all the responsibilities and roles. It may become difficult for them to adjust together.

Tips to improve communication problems: 

• Both of them should commit to understanding each other and stay together. 
• Try to listen patiently to what they want and what challenges they face.
• Listen to the points you can agree with and don’t just disagree. Try to keep the situation calm.
• Survivors may take more time to understand what they are trying to say and may take time to respond. So be patient with the person. 
• When a topic ends in disagreement, try to avoid that topic and sometimes try to adjust things.
• Make sure you are polite, as being rude can lead to problems in the relationship.
• You can practice your facial expressions and gestures in front of the mirror.

Wrap Up!

After a traumatic brain injury, the survivor may change a bit. They may remember the good memories of the past and feel sad. The spouse can feel the pressure and maybe be stressed by noticing the changed behavior of the person. 

Due to the lack of communication, they may feel like being alone and lonely. In this article, you will come across all these aspects. Make sure you go through it and understand how to tackle the challenges in the relationship when you are dating.

We hope this article would give perspective to both victims as well as their partners on how the relationship might change after an injury, and what are the ways to cope with these changes. Do let us know if the content was useful in understanding how your partner may be feeling or behaving.

If you are undergoing a chronic disease, your health problems can cause more than just physical harm. Let us see how a gap in health can affect relationships with loved ones.

A gap in health can affect relationships. A person who suffers from an illness knows that he is not doing as much as they used to contribute to a relationship. You may not be able to contribute enough time. It may happen that due to reduced energy, you cannot spend time together. A gap in health may impact the relationships negatively. 

Are you wondering how to overcome a health gap and create a good bond with your loved ones again? This article will talk about how you can help your relationship overcome a health gap. But before that, let’s check what causes a health gap and how it affects a relationship. 

What Causes A Health Gap?

There are multiple reasons which lead to the health gap. Some of them are:

Chronic diseases:

Being affected by chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, and heart failure is the primary cause of death amongst Americans. When a person is affected by chronic illness, their activities become restricted. 

They may feel unenergetic all the time. This leads to a health gap as the person can’t cope with all the tasks on their own. It may require a lifelong treatment of the disease. 

Smoking: 

Around 16mn Americans are living with a smoking-related disease. People who smoke can get affected by severe diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, cancer emphysema, and chronic bronchitis. 

Smoking also enhances the risk of being affected by diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis. 

While smoking itself is unlikely to cause a gap in health, it is the root cause of many chronic diseases, which is why it is an important factor to consider when talking about health gaps.

Consumption of illicit drugs: 

The consumption of drugs may lead to various mental problems like anxiety, depression, and psychosis.

Sometimes financial issues due to these mental conditions may increase the chances of health gaps. The consumption of drugs leads to a change in a person’s behaviour. It may lead to assault in the relationship and health gap too. 

Obesity: 

Obesity has become a significant cause of worry and concern among people now. Being obese leads to less self-confidence. You may feel embarrassed and guilty for not being fit. 

This can lead to a health gap between the couples if one doesn’t feel comfortable about themselves. 

Being physically inactive: 

Being physically inactive may lead to obesity and other conditions like high blood pressure and high blood sugar levels. 

If you constantly suffer from any of these diseases, it may lead to a health gap in a relationship as you feel less energetic. It would help if you visited the doctor more frequently. 

Going through neurological and psychological problems: 

There are many reasons, which show why a person can have mental conditions. When they cannot achieve a particular thing, they may have gone through a sudden shock or trauma. 

It may lead to mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. You may feel like isolating yourself from everything and staying alone. It may increase the health gap in the relationship as the communication ends. It may lead to misunderstanding amongst the couples. 

How Does a Gap in Health Affect relationships?

Increased responsibilities: 

A person who cares in the relationship is flooded with many responsibilities, responsibilities of the house, family, and a child. It becomes difficult for the person to provide care entirely to the sick spouse and manage the work, cook food and take care of the other things.

It might become difficult and frustrating at the same time. Thus a gap in a relationship would lead to stress about the person’s recovery and handling responsibilities altogether. 

Affect intimacy with the partner: 

The illness or health gap affects your intimacy with your partner. For example: Due to increased illness and weakness in the body, you may feel unable to become intimate and lose interest in making love. Consumption of excessive medicines may lead to decreased libido as a side effect. 

It may affect your overall well being with your partner:

Being affected by illness may affect the overall well-being of a person. Symptoms of the disease can make a person lazy, anxious, isolated, and sometimes it may impact the ability to express empathy for others. These symptoms may cause resentment within your partner. Sometimes it may lead to codependency. 

Communication is vital to maintain a good understanding amongst the couples. However, if you are suffering from a gap in health, you may not feel like communicating with your partner. It may lead to many misunderstandings. 

It may lead to guilt, resentment, and shame:

If you have a mental illness, it may lead to stress in a relationship because its stigma may cause you shame, embarrassment, and sometimes guilt about the condition. 

The ill person might try to hide the symptoms or fail to ask for help if they need it. Meanwhile, the partner may feel frustrated and confused for not being able to work. 

Sometimes it may lead to depression or anxiety as the person has to take all the responsibility for himself and care for the partner. It may feel challenging for a person, and it may strain the person as they have to carry out all the activities on their own without support.

Help Relationships Overcome Health Gaps

Try to spend more time together:

Try to support your spouse and assure them that you are always beside them. This would positively impact their mindset. Try to understand their requirements and look after them if they want to talk. Try to share the small routines of your day. 

It can be walking with the dog, exercising together, watching a movie, or visiting the doctor. Try to look after how much they have recovered from a particular disease. You both may be very happy spending time together. 

Be aware of their conditions: 

It would be very fruitful and effective if you could talk to the doctor and pay attention to your partner and the treatment they need. Have a track of the progress from the illness. 

The internet may provide you with accurate information about the condition and the necessary treatment. You can try to take information from the doctors and get the best treatment done for your spouse. 

Try to visit the specialist together: 

Don’t wait outside when taking medical appointments. It is always helpful to talk to the doctor about the treatment plan. You can have a list of questions and concerns you want to ask your doctor.

It would be great to prioritize your questions and ask about the progress. If you cannot visit the doctor together, then you can take consultation on call. It would be great if you were with your partner to boost their self-esteem and morale.

Focus upon the routine:

After the diagnosis of a particular disease, the doctor may recommend changes in the intensity of the physical activities, medicine routine, rest, and the spouse’s diet. With the help of encouragement and support, they may stay on the correct track.

But it may lead to frustration on both sides. The ill one might not appreciate the nagging. Try to seek the support of the health care practitioner and understand what the essential changes you need to make are. Make sure that you don’t get angry and handle them with love and care.

Try to accept help: 

If you can’t carry out all the activities on your own, then try to seek help. By taking the help, you can provide the rest and support for your partner. Being a caring partner and working on all the activities on your own may lead to being exhausted.

Trying to ask for house help, home nursing services, and providing physical therapy can also be great. Try to ensure your partner’s safety and pay attention to the functioning of the house.

Show some empathy and compassion:

Try to be motivated to relieve the other person’s pain and suffering. It is called being compassionate towards someone. Being compassionate is helping in difficult situations and getting out of the problems together. 

Try to empathize with the other person and try to feel the emotions.

Help them understand that it might be challenging to manage the situation right now. But, there will be a moment when it will be all ok.

Try to believe and give validation:

Try to give validation and believe in their feelings and concerns. Try to feel the same as what would happen if you were suffering from chronic illness. Try to fulfill all their needs. Keep trying to understand what the requirements are and why they are feeling sad, or why they are depressed.

Don’t let them build any stigma or misconception related to their illness in their minds. This is the time when you need to support each other and overcome the health gap.

Try to show interest and support the journey:

People will support you when you are happy and well. But, sometimes, nobody may be there to support. Being a partner, you can make them feel that it is absolutely fine and nothing has changed. Try to ask them to make some healthy choices. 

Don’t let them be isolated. Assure them that you need to be patient and support them in this journey’s daily activities. Try to add more fun and interest by doing the things they like. This would help you to overcome the health gap in the relationship.

It’s completely ok not to be ok: 

Try to make them understand that it is ok for not being ok. Many people fall sick, and it is completely fine. Try to boost their morale. Don’t let them feel like what has happened to me.

Try to behave normally and do not overreact to anything. Sometimes they need space, so provide them space. Make a note of the things that make them happy. Sometimes people need rest and some personal space. 

Let go of the expectations:

Don’t expect the person suffering from a chronic illness to always be there. You do not know when the person is feeling low and weak.

If they do not answer the emails or phone right away, they understand that they might feel low. The best support that you can provide is by understanding them. Trust the process so that everything will be a little better.

Let them rest:

Ask them to rest properly. You may ask them to take holidays from work completely. It is essential to spend some time with them. But, do not force them if they are not feeling well; this may cause frustration amongst them.

You may reduce the health gap in relationships through all these ways. It may strengthen your bond. 

What Leads To Healthy Relationships?

Various factors lead to a healthy relationship. The health gap may lead to an unhealthy relationship. It is essential to understand some tips and tricks so that a person can achieve a healthy relationship. 

Communication is the key to developing healthy relationships: 

Open communication is necessary to build a healthy relationship between two people. Fights and disagreements are normal in relationships. 

Fights may lead to stress, and the condition may worsen. But being calm and having constructive communication may lead to overcoming any fight. Don’t argue and try to admit your mistake. Try to accept if another person has made a mistake.

Try to contribute time for the couple activities: 

The best way to overcome conflict or problems is by spending quality time together. It doesn’t matter how busy you are with your work. Taking out time for people you care for and loved ones is essential. 

The demands from a profession may leave you with little time. But yes, you can make the time enjoyable with your loved one. Doing the activities which you both like will strengthen the bond. You may play card games and board games together. 

Try to take out your own space: 

Taking out time for the loved ones is essential. But, it is necessary to take time for yourself. Also, ask a partner to do the same and give them a little space. 

You can take time for yourself, and activities you like can be self-care or a skincare routine. It is essential to create a balance between all the activities.

If you are too distant and a bit close to each other, you may feel like not being enthusiastic about spending time with each other. 

Try to appreciate and give some attention: 

Initially, couples in the relationship give each other attention and appreciate each other. But as time passes by, the couples start taking each other for granted. They forget their admiration and stop appreciating each other.

When one of the persons suffers from a health gap or no longer shows affection for the other partner, it leads to less interest and a decreased strength of the bond in the relationship. So appreciating each other is essential for both. 

Can a Person Overcome a Health Gap After Being Cured?

Yes, a health gap can be cured if someone overcomes the health issue. But if the person is affected by a chronic health issue, it is essential to manage the health gap.

You can manage the health gap by understanding that it is not a life sentence. You need to make your life a priority and start believing that spending time with your spouse and your health is essential.

Do Health Gaps Cause Stress Between All Couples?

No, when a person is affected by any chronic disease, they might be stressed about it. However, all the couples might not be worried about it. 

Some of them may strengthen their bonds and achieve a lovely bond for each other. This might be the best time for them to recollect their memories and share things. 

Do All Health Gaps Occur Because of Physical Health Problems?

No, the health gap doesn’t occur because of physical health problems. Sometimes mental health problems may lead to health gaps between the couples. Sometimes, overburdened work or too many responsibilities also leads to the couple’s health gap.

Wrap Up

Health gaps have become a common reason for discrepancies between couples. This may lead to problems sometimes. But, you can work on it and solve this problem together. 

We hope that the suggestions, tips, and techniques that we talked about in this guide will help you in mending problems with your loved ones. 

In the end, we would like to hear from you. If you have any comments, suggestions, or recommendations, don’t hesitate to share them with us. You can directly contact us through the comment section. 

As always, if you liked the content, feel free to share it on your social media handles and in your groups. Relationships are a sensitive subject; we all need advice on managing them from time to time. We hope our little blog can help as many people as possible!