TOO CLOSE FOR COMFORT?

CAMPAIGN HELPS FAMILIES MAKE THE MOST OF LIVING TOGETHER

It’s happening in the White House and in homes throughout our community. You may recall President Obama’s mother-in-law moving to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. But this issue is more than just political news. It’s part of a growing national trend. According to a recent survey conducted for Home Instead Senior Care, 43 percent of adult caregivers in the U.S. live with the person they’re caring for.

The Census Bureau confirms this trend: A 55 percent increase in seniors living with their adult children between 2000 and 2007.2-3

We’ve discovered that three main factors are driving this trend. Families are coming together to:

1. Share family caregiving duties — either the senior needs care or the older adult is helping to raise grandchildren.

2. Seniors feel the need for physical or emotional support if they lose a spouse, have health issues or problems maintaining their property.

3. The economy is affecting the financial outlook of seniors living on fixed incomes.

The challenges that can arise from intergenerational living have prompted Home Instead Senior Care to launch a public education campaign. This campaign will help adult children begin to address issues of living under one roof. At the center of the campaign is a guide, available free from the local Home Instead Senior Care.

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