Whether it’s adult children living with their older parents or aging parents moving in with their adult children, multigenerational living is becoming more and more common. This has become especially important as senior living facilities have become less affordable. Sharing financial responsibilities can free up family members’ time for other things, like caring for loved ones. However, multigenerational living can come with its own set of challenges, so it’s important to make a few changes.
Make the Home Accessible
It takes some time to make changes to make your house more accessible, but it can pay off later. Think about adjustments you can make that will benefit you and others living in the household. A home elevator can make every part of your home accessible, and they combine accessibility with style. You can learn more about home elevator prices for Stiltz to see how this improvement can benefit you.
Come to an Agreement on the Space
When multiple generations share the same space, everyone needs to collaborate and make some compromises. It’s likely that each person has their own style, so it’s important to come to an agreement on what works best, especially in areas that you will be sharing, like the kitchen and living space. This is especially important if someone already owns the home, such as a family having older parents or in-laws coming to live with them.If each person has their own room in the house, they can personalize to express their styles. For the main part of the house, consider balancing modern and traditional styles so it is appealing to more people.
Find Things to Do Together
Just because you live together doesn’t mean you always spend quality time together. This is why it’s important to find shared interests so you can do things together. Some enjoy taking care of a flower or vegetable garden to be practical and fun. If this isn’t feasible or enjoyable, you may find you enjoy preparing meals together. This also allows older members of the family to share recipes and skills with younger generations. Having a family game or movie night is another way you can create memories together during this season of life.
Respect Each Person’s Privacy
With more people living under the same roof, it is a change for everyone, and it does come with less privacy. Tensions can arise, even if you all have good relationships with each other. It is important to proactively make sure everyone has enough personal space and privacy, so you are able to spend enough time apart. If the space is especially small, you might find having people getting out of the house on their own is the best option. When the weather is nice, they could go to a park or take a walk for a while. Or you could go to indoor spaces, like a library or a community center. It’s important for each household member to communicate when they feel they need a bit of time on their own. Respect each other’s need for privacy.
