My House or Yours?  Planning for a Multigenerational Home

The White House is one, there's probably one on your street, and you may be next.  When President Obama's mother-in-law, Marian Robinson, moved to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the household there joined the rapidly growing number of multigenerational homes a number that has increased 57% between 2000 and 2007 according to the U.S. Census.  And that figure doesn't include the past year of economic crisis and home foreclosures.

Factors such as a high divorce rate, costly housing, the need to share family caregiving responsibilities (either the senior needs care or the senior is providing care for grandchildren) and the growing over 65 population who need physical or emotional support or have health problems and need care or just cannot continue to maintain their residences have all contributed to the phenomenon of parents, children and grandchildren living together.  But with the recent shrinking of assets, increase in unemployment, and rise in home foreclosures, more people are giving the "extended family under one roof idea" a serious look.  For some it's not an option it's a necessity.

It's natural for adult children, as their parents age, to wonder what it would be like to have them living close at hand.  In fact, among children who care for older parents or relatives, a fairly high percentage does so on a live-in basis.  A recent study of about 1,200 senior households counted 43% with live-in care by a child or relative.  The study brought up evidence of the inevitable stress resulting from such a situation, especially considering that 28% of these caregivers also had children under 18 in the household.  The average caregiving time spent by the live-in relative acting as primary caregiver was 39 hours a week - almost the equivalent of a full-time job.  Of surveyed caregivers, 41% felt that they had insufficient time for themselves or to be with friends.

On the plus side, 47% percent of caregivers in multigenerational homes reported that the experience was rewarding, and for many, giving the parent the "best possible care" was a high priority.  (Most adult children probably remember that their parents once found them stressful too!)  Adult children anticipating this step will need to make plans to share the workload, possibly hire some outside help, and balance time for extended family with time for themselves or friends.

Regardless of your specific situation there are some basic questions you should consider.  Family caregivers may wonder:

1. Do I have the resources to take care of mom or dad in my home?
2. Do mom and dad move in with me or vice versa?
3. Is my home safe for them and, if not, what changes should be made?
4. How do I make sure I have time for myself?

Meanwhile, seniors who see a joint household possible in the future should ask for answers to these questions: