If you are a family caregiver who plans to move your loved one into your home, you may be interested in learning about some facts about multigenerational family trends in the United States.
As the numbers of those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) increases, more and more families are adopting multigenerational living situations. In fact, nearly 7.1 million households in the U.S. had 2 or more generations of family members in 2010, according to U.S. Census Bureau numbers.
The most common scenario of the multigenerational family is the elderly parent, moving in with an adult child and grandchild/children.
Statistics show that older women are more likely than men to move in with adult children. This fact goes along with stats about Alzheimer’s disease (AD) concluding that more women than men.
Experts say families should consider all aspects (financial, safety and comfort) of intergenerational living before moving a loved one in. Ask yourself if the entire family is in support of the decision.
Before moving your senior into your home, be sure all family members are in agreement with the plan. Be prepared to answer questions the kids have and don’t try to sugar coat expectations. Explain what each family member should expect as far as changes in routine (such as meals) while enlisting cooperation for help with Alzheimer’s caregiving tasks, household chores, or errands-for teens who can drive.
In today’s economy, families are looking for unity and interdependence helps address financial concerns for many who have made the decision to share housing among generations.
Learn more about topics for Alzheimer’s caregivers by CLICKING HERE to join our 25 lesson course at AlzU.org, written specifically for those in early stages of AD and their caregivers.
