As times change, more families find themselves living with extended relatives. While multigenerational homes are the norm in developing countries, they have not been popular for quite some time in the United States. However, as the economy changes, and family structures change, they are once again becoming common. Living in a multigenerational household can be a challenge. But if you can make it work, it can be rewarding.
If you are facing the challenges of living with several generations of your family, consider some ways to make the situation enriching and enjoyable. Even with a home filled with loved ones, you may still require the assistance of a third-party caregiver. Consider Sequoia Senior Solutions in California if you are looking for trained, professional caregivers.
At the Beginning
Early in the living arrangement, determine how finances will be handled. If a senior parent is moving into your home, there may be no changes. However, he may have some income and want to contribute. Decide ahead of time what he will be responsible for. This will help prevent arguments and disagreements in the future. Expectations will be set, so no one will be disappointed or surprised by how things are handled. Also determine if having a new person in the house will lead to additional expenses. It may mean a higher grocery or electric bill. You may also find yourself responsible transportation needs. If this will be a problem, it is make arrangements in advance. In many cases, these minimal increases in living expenses will not matter. But if they will, it will be better for everyone to understand the arrangements beforehand.
Everyone in the home should also understand if the new living arrangements are permanent. If people in the home are expecting a temporary situation, they may be alarmed if the arrangements continue on without signs of returning to normal. This can put a lot of strain on a family. However, situations in which children are expecting grandparents to be living with them permanently but the arrangement ends after a short time may be upset and disappointed. If everyone understands ahead of time what time frame the arrangements are for, it may be easier to cope with or accept when it ends.
Changing Lifestyles
Once everyone understands what to expect, it is time to define responsibilities. If a senior moving into the home has health problems, this may mean more responsibilities for everyone. The regular household issues every family deals with may be magnified with a new resident. If parents will be dealing with grandparents and their medical needss, children may need to take on more chores. As long as everyone understands what is expected of them, the transition can be stress-free. If children are not old enough to take on the responsibilities of senior care, parents may want to look into finding respite care. Sequoia Senior Solutions provides temporary and permanent care to families who need a break from the stress of caring for senior loved one. If parents would like some time outside of the home with their children, call on them to provide professional, compassionate care.
Another consideration in multigenerational households are good boundaries. All members of the family will be expecting privacy, but they may need to be reminded to take the privacy of others into consideration. Grandparents may not understand how to deal with teenage grandchildrens’ desires to have some time to themselves. Young children may want to spend all their time with grandparents, who will initially delight in the attention, but ultimately need time alone. Everyone should determine their privacy needs and share this with the family. Also establish schedules concerning bathrooms, televisions, and noise from music and entertainment.
Setting Boundaries
It is also important for boundaries to be established for how children will be disciplined. Just because several are adults in the house does not mean they all will play a role in decision making for the children. The role of the parents still need to be respected, and this should be discussed ahead of time. Children should respect everyone in the home, but they need to understand their parents are the authority when it comes to making decision.
Finally, just because everyone is living together does not mean it is not necessary to share always family time. Time together can be taken for granted when special visits to see Grandma no longer need to be planned. However, families can still set aside time to spend together aside from routine living. Time should be set aside for fun that includes games, casual conversation, and activities. Also plan time alone for individual family members. It is still important for children to build relationships with their parents separate from senior relatives.
