The Basics of Multigenerational Living
As housing and other living costs remain high in the United States, more families are choosing to live in multigenerational homes, often sharing chores and expenses. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, the number of individuals living in such households in the United States quadrupled to almost sixty million people between 1971 and 2021. This setup can offer a number of different benefits for everyone involved, but navigating it isn’t always smooth. Check out what advantages you can expect with this option along with some tactics for making it work.
Practical pluses
Naturally, a major perk of sharing a multigenerational home is that it may help ease the financial burden of living expenses, primarily the mortgage, property taxes, and utility bills. This may, of course, depend on the individual situations of those you’re living with; elderly relatives, for instance, will likely be on a fixed income and may be unable to contribute much. But even then, you could discuss sharing other costs, such as groceries, home maintenance, transportation, or even streaming services. These savings can add up, allowing you to gather funds for other financial goals, whether you’re saving for something big like your child’s college education or small like a weekend getaway.
Moreover, multigenerational living can offer a network of support that each person in the house can rely on. Perhaps your relative would be willing to help watch your kids while you’re at work or take care of your pet while you’re away, both providing you peace of mind that they’re in good hands and cutting your costs. Likewise, more people in the home can better ensure that someone is there in case an elderly individual has a health emergency or dangerous fall.
Other benefits include potentially increased protection for your home from break-ins—since it being occupied more often may dissuade intruders—and the ability to split chores. And if someone isn’t a fan of doing the dishes or scrubbing the toilets, there are plenty of other people in the household perhaps willing to trade it for something they’d rather avoid.
Healthy upsides
Living in the same home is a great way to strengthen family ties with other generations or extended family members you may have grown apart from due to various moves or the busyness of life. Even if your time is still limited, you can gain opportunities to bond during day-to-day activities, from making dinner to cleaning the house. And in being surrounded by those you love, you might grow to experience a comforting feeling of belonging and support.
Furthermore, sharing a household can provide physical and mental gains for everyone involved. For instance, studies show that interactions between older adults and younger individuals can reduce anxiety, aid cognitive function, and increase physical activity for the former and assist the latter in developing useful life skills and their emotional intelligence. Staying with family may also help elderly individuals avoid the depression and loneliness that is often prevalent among this demographic while possibly even aiding in extending their lifespans.
Best practices
When navigating the dynamics of a multigenerational home, it’s important to prioritize the needs of each person to better ensure that everyone can live well together. Here are four keys to keep in mind.
Accessibility
Evaluate how comfortable and safe your house is for residents of all age levels. For example, if you’re moving your adult child and their family in, you may want to add babyproofing features like secure gates and locks. Conversely, if you’re merging homes with your elderly parents, items like grab bars, nonslip flooring, and a chairlift may be crucial.
Communication
Make expectations and responsibilities clear from the get-go, and strive to keep lines of communication open, such as through regular family meetings. If relationships start to become strained, consider seeking help from a family counselor or therapist, who can offer advice to help overcome these obstacles and improve discussion.
Privacy
In a more crowded home, respecting each other’s personal space is essential. Explore solutions like instituting a knock-first policy and adding a sliding barn door between connected rooms in an open floor plan. Additionally, establish agreed-upon quiet times and ask everyone to be mindful of their noise levels—though in a pinch, a pair of noise-canceling headphones could come in handy.
Storage
Sharing a home with more people means there’ll be more stuff, so find ways to provide ample storage for your loved one’s belongings and keep your spaces tidy. This could include bringing in additional dressers or designating an area in the garage, attic, or basement for each person.
Multigenerational living isn’t for everyone, but it can present a viable solution for many. Approach it with consideration, respect, and open communication, and you can make it a rewarding and enriching experience for all.