Multigenerational Living
In 2020 my family moved back in with each other. I lost my job, and with no one hiring I quickly left the overpriced city and headed home. At the same time, my youngest sister got on the last flight out of Australia before the country shut down. My middle sister and her husband had already been living with my parents, so with the exception of my brother and his family who lived out-of-state, the next two years were family-filled with many highs and many lows.
There were moments filled with laughter and joy and feeling loved and there were moments of anger and grief. For myself, starting off the season of transition jobless, single, approaching my 30th birthday, and living with my parents was let’s say…not what I expected at that stage of life. But as time unfolded I began to process the benefits of living with family, the history of the living style, and even delved into the American retirement system.
The following paragraphs are snippets of information I found that promote the benefits of multi-generational.
Multigenerational Living: America + Beyond
Prior to the 20th Century, the majority of homes in America were multi-generational. Agrarian societies were the norm and multiple generations lived on family plots or in close-knit communities. The living arrangement allowed for shared labor, pooling of resources, and the passing down of knowledge from older to younger generations. As industrialization took hold and urbanization increased, the trend shifted towards nuclear households with a focus on independence and privacy.
While there has been a falling away from family living in the United States there has been a resurgence during periods of economic instability, such as the Great Depression, The Great Recession, and more recently, the 2020 pandemic. The challenging times have prompted families to come together and share resources to weather financial hardships. According to a report by the Pew Research Center, the share of Americans living in multigenerational households has nearly doubled since the 1970’s.
In comparison to other countries, multigenerational living is more prevalent and culturally accepted in many parts of the world. In Asian countries like China, India, and Japan, multigenerational living has deep historical roots and is deeply ingrained in the culture. It is seen as a way to honor and respect elders, maintain family cohesion, and provide support for aging parents. In these countries, it is common for several generations to live together in the same household or within close proximity.
In European countries, the prevalence of multigenerational living varies. In Mediterranean countries like Spain and Greece, multigenerational households are more common due to cultural values emphasizing strong family ties and interdependence. Nordic countries tend to have a greater emphasis on individual autonomy and smaller family units.
There are different reasons for multigenerational living across countries and the acceptance of the living style has fluctuated in popularity within the United States. However, it still remains a prevalent and culturally significant living arrangement in many other countries, driven by a combination of economic, cultural, and familial factors, and the benefits can be an influential part of the decision to partake in this lifestyle.
Retirement Housing Options in America
In the early 20th century the United States established the Social Security Act, which paid individuals a sum past retirement. This enabled independence and likewise the separation of families living together. However, eventually, as individuals age they need assistance. And if individuals do not have family members to rely on they need alternative care. So during the same time as the Social Security Act, the government began establishing nursing homes in an effort to provide housing for aging individuals in need of assistance for their day-to-day activities. Fast forward to today, access to retirement communities is not financially accessible to all. There are individuals at retirement age who are still working or facing homelessness due lack of funds to retire. Here, in Washington State, the average monthly assisted living, where caregivers come to individual homes to assist in daily living, costs around $5,750 per month and that is considered baseline. Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs) for individuals needing more care have entrance fees around $100,000 with a monthly service fee ranging from $1,000 - $5,000.
“Aging adults without money to support them through the rest of their lives can stay in a nursing home for up to 100 days—and Medicaid will cover the cost for this brief period. Seniors who reside in an assisted living facility and run out of funds will be evicted” - Assisted Hands Home Care
Benefits of Multigenerational Living
If the retirement options do not seem financially feasible for a family, taking in your folks (or potentially none family members) could prove economically beneficial for several reasons:
Improved Finances:
With more wage-earning adults family members can contribute to shared expenses like groceries, mortgage, and utility costs. Items may be purchased in bulk, bringing the overall costs down. Individuals can also get paid for taking care of their parents.
Childcare:
Finding reliable childcare is a continual challenge. With the convenience of multiple adults in one household, relying on family members for childcare, even when if it simply means watching the kids for a last-minute errand or date night, can bring a lot of freedom to working parents.
Security
While there are an extra set of eyes to watch the children the same is true for elderly individuals. For example, balance issues are a common problem among the aging and with enough family around it can ensure everyone is being looked after.
Relationships
Loneliness is common among aging adults. Grandparents interacting with grandchildren can be mutually beneficial. Grandparents can share stories and life advice with grandchildren feeling useful and engaged, while in return the children learn how to interact with the elderly and glean from their experience. Studies have shown that grandparents have a profound impact on children's lives.
Homeownership responsibilities.
Dividing age-appropriate tasks for individuals in the household can reduce the overall maintenance work and costs typically put on a single family.
Conclusion
A common fear concerning multigenerational living is not having enough space / having parents in your space. Thankfully with new zoning laws, especially here in Washington State, having mother-in-law units whether attached or detached (ADU or DADU) are becoming more accessible for different lot conditions. This can provide an alternative to having aging parents in your primary unit and lend some privacy. But weather you agree or disagree with this living style nationwide Americans are reverting back to our historical roots. From 1971 - 2021 multigenerational living has quadrupled which means nearly 60 million Americans today are choosing this lifestyle.
Ironically, today, my sisters and I have all moved out of our parent’s house. That is not to say it went poorly, there is a season for everything and I know multigenerational living will resume in some of our futures. I look back on that season with gratitude. My nephew was born in my time at home and I got to spend the first 1-1/2 years of his life with him; My sister continually expresses her gratitude for the assistance she had raising a child. There seemed to always be someone at home to help out. Family meals were a highlight of mine as I love cooking for others, and I got to renovate parts of the house which I always enjoys.
While I do not expect everyone to get-on-board with this living style for various reasons. I would encourage others to look into the benefits of living with others. Maybe it’s not your parents but buying a house with friends. Cohabitating can take many forms and the benefits may remain the the same as multigenerational living.
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To see a multigenerational concept design click the ‘project’ tab at the top of the webpage and find the ‘Multigenerational Living + Thatch’ post.
