Did you know that grandparents’ day is celebrated on July 26 in Brazil?
I want to remember a date that is still unnoticed by many people: grandparents’ day. The choice of day is not by chance: He celebrates Sant’Ana and St. Joaquim, grandparents of Jesus Christ, recognized by Christian tradition as examples of faith and family love. Regardless of faith, it is a special time to reflect on the presence and role of grandparents in our lives – and how we are taking care of them.
Grandparents: love, care and legacy
More than grandparents, they are true masters of life – as many say, “parents with sugar.” They are a symbol of love, care and continuity, leaving an invaluable affective and educational legacy. Who else welcomes us with a calm look, hugs full of stories and advice we take for a lifetime?
They are the ones who teach recipes that cross generations, tell stories of times that we do not live, and give us values, customs and traditions that shape our identity. Living with our grandparents, we learn patience, listening and care. Listening to your stories is not just a gesture of affection, but a way of preserving the family’s living memory and recognizing the value of the accumulated experience. Each report is a bridge between past and present – and a legacy for the future.
Take care of those who always took care of us
With the aging of the population, it becomes even more essential to see grandparents with respect and attention. They are not just part of the past: they are an active source of affection, culture and learning and continue to have much to offer – as long as they receive dignity, care, health and love.
For me, as a geriatrician, this date has a special meaning: 12 years ago, on grandparents’ day, I presented my grandparents in life and my grandparents in memory with my greatest achievement, the degree in medicine. It was a pride and a tribute to those who inspired me so much. To you, grandparents and grandparents, my happy grandparents’ day and, to mine who have already departed, a great “I love you.”
Return this love in double
On this day of grandparents, how about returning a little of this care and affection? It can be with a phone call, a visit, a memory or simply quality time. More than honors, grandparents deserve true presence, listening and affection.
If you are a grandmother or grandfather, receive our admiration. If you have or had grandparents present, celebrate. And if you work with the elderly, like us in Geriatrics, take advantage of this date to value the importance of growing old with dignity, love and purpose.
Dr. Julianne Pessequillo – CRM 160.834 / RQE 71.895
Geriatrics and Medical Clinic – Healthy Longevity
