The decision to move a parent into your house can follow a crisis. Maybe they’ve had a stroke and you’ve got the biggest house out of the ‘kids’ to accommodate them. Or maybe the move has followed months of discussion about their failing health or shaky finances.<\/p>
Either way, experts say combining households affects every member of today’s ‘Club Sandwich Generation’ from toddlers to great-grandparents<\/a>. Plenty of planning, setting clear boundaries and encouraging open communication can help preserve harmony even under difficult circumstances.<\/p> An ageing population, expensive housing, expensive care and a struggling economy. These factors are pushing an increasing number of families to join forces across the generations, living together under one roof.<\/p> The move can bring rewards as well as stresses. Besides saving money and keeping an aging loved one safe, many families say a blended household forges closer bonds between the generations. Children will always remember Grandma baking cookies for them and attending school plays.<\/p> But joining a younger household can be an emotionally-laden role reversal for the parent. Even in the midst of a loving family, an aging parent may feel a real sense of loss of independence and autonomy. That sense of loss may crop up in odd ways, such as resistance or controlling behaviour around food or housekeeping routines.<\/p> Moving a parent in with you changes the family dynamic. It requires planning ahead and honest communication about ground rules and boundaries. You can’t treat an elder like a house guest, always putting on ‘company manners’. Simultaneously, you’ve got to preserve the core family’s unity while not making your parent feel useless or invisible. It’s a delicate balancing act, but make sure you have those hard conversations as soon as problems arise.<\/p> Many adult ‘children’ expect their parents will be a live-in babysitter<\/a> — only later realising that they too need care as their health declines. If your parent has any physical or mental conditions, find out everything you can about their prognosis from a doctor. Before making the big move, consider moving in with your parent for a week or two to make sure you can manage their care on your own.<\/p>Multi-generational households on the rise<\/h2>
Expectations and communication<\/h2>
Getting the help you need<\/h2>