Do Aging Parents Really Want to Live With Their Grown Children?

As life expectancy continues to increase, many families face the difficult decision of whether to have aging parents move in with their grown children. With nearly 30% of seniors moving back in with their children, it is a situation that is increasingly likely to happen. It is important to consider what is best for all involved, as well as the potential benefits, risks, and responsibilities of welcoming a parent into the home. Here’s a look into older parents living with their adult children.

Benefits of Aging Parents Living with Their Grown Children

There are many benefits to both aging parents and grown children when they live together. Some of the most common benefits include more financial stability, reduced stress, and a greater sense of purpose among aging parents, as well as decreased housing and childcare costs for grown children. 

Financial Stability

When aging parents live with their grown children, both parties are able to share in the expenses of day-to-day living, which can help provide greater financial stability for all family members. Having a parent move in with their grown children can also help ensure that there is adequate coverage in the event of a medical emergency. 

Decreased Housing and Childcare Costs

When aging parents live with their grown children, both parties can benefit from decreased housing and childcare costs. This can help aging parents remain financially independent while also reducing the costs for their grown children.

Challenges of Aging Parents Living with Their Grown Children

While there are many benefits to aging parents living with their grown children, there are also potential challenges that must be considered before making the decision to welcome an aging parent into the home. Here are a few of the challenges that you may face. 

Decreased Privacy 

When aging parents move in with their grown children, they may experience a decrease in privacy, which can be especially challenging for those who are already dealing with the effects of aging. While privacy issues can be managed and overcome, they are important to be aware of before making the decision to have a parent live with your family.

Decline in Independence

Autonomy, or the sense of control and independence, is essential to living a healthy and happy life. When aging parents move in with their grown children, they may experience a decline in autonomy, leading to decreased self-worth and overall happiness. It is important to take autonomy into consideration before choosing to have an aging parent move in with your family.

Factors to Consider 

There are a number of factors to consider when deciding if an aging parent should live with their grown children. These factors are important since they can help you maintain a positive relationship with your parents while avoiding some of the possible problems that impact everyone’s quality of life. Before you take in an aging parent, here are a few things to consider. 

Health and Well-Being 

The health and well-being of both aging parents and grown children are important factors to consider when deciding if a parent should live with their grown children. If a parent is experiencing declining health, living with their grown children may be too taxing on their physical and mental health. 

On the other hand, if grown children are dealing with a serious health condition, it may be necessary to have an aging parent move in to provide additional support. 

Financial Impact

The financial impact of having aging parents move in with their grown children is an important factor to consider before deciding. Families should carefully review both short- and long-term financial impact, as well as any changes that may be necessary to accommodate an aging parent. 

Space and Layout of Home 

The space and layout of the home is important to consider when deciding if an aging parent should move in with their grown children. If there is not enough space to accommodate an aging parent, or if the layout is not conducive to the needs of an aging parent, it may be necessary to consider other living arrangements that would be safer.

There Are Other Options

One of the biggest influences on the decision to take in an aging parent is the cost. No matter what your financial situation is, there are other options. Start looking by working with Gardens Care to determine your care needs. Call us at 303-566-1085 to start your senior care search.