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Multigenerational Families Living Together Again

The New York Times, December 15, 2013, had a lead article on”Multigenerational Families Living Together Again.  Here is what the author, Constance Rosenbloom said:


With several generations in residence, the Thomas household represents a housing model that social scientists are paying a lot of attention to these days, one that grows out of a phenomenon that economists call “shrinking households” or “missing households.” The terms refer to an arrangement not uncommon today among some ethnic groups and viewed as an encouraging throwback to the way many families lived decades ago.


This Grandma agrees with this author:


The challenges of multigenerational families are considerable – witness the flood of recent books on how to navigate the situation – but the financial, practical and emotional benefits can be great.


She says the reason for the rise in multigenerational family living together primarily due to the impact of the recession and difficult economic times, including children coming home from college without jobs;  loss of job, house or pension.  She also mentions the issues related to  elderly parents.


Now here are the statistics:

One measure of the increase is the number of households in which someone 60 or older is identified as the parent of the head of the household. In these families, the assumption is that elderly parents are living with their grown children.


 Between the 2000 census and the 2009-2011 American Community Survey figures, the number of such households in New York increased by 5 percent. The increases are especially large in Staten Island (up 21 percent) and Queens (up 8 percent). Both boroughs have large numbers of two-family houses, often called mother-daughter homes, with an attached apartment on the side or in the basement.

 

And the New York numbers are reflected nationally. According to a 2011 report titled “Family Matters: Multigenerational Families in a Volatile Economy,” published by Generations United, an organization that supports this population, more than 51 million Americans – about one in six – lived in a multigenerational household. This number represents an increase of more than 10 percent since the recession began, the organization said.


This Grandma loves what the executive director of Generations United said:

“Our report found that in 66 percent of the households, the current economic problems were the cause,” said Donna Butts, the executive director of Generations United. “But while many families came together because of the economy, they stayed together by choice. People expect stress from this arrangement, but they don’t expect the benefits. The downside is that our culture is so focused on independence that pushing against the culture is considered shameful. I tell them, wake up and smell the demographics.”


Wow! Yes, more hands on board to raise children lessens stress.  Whether it be economics, convenience or affection, as the article mentions, this Grandma thinks this is a good thing for everyone in the family.  So New York is paying attention and the trend is continuing to expand to the entire U.S.


Not only are social scientists paying attention, builders of new homes are paying attention.  Why should this be a surprise? The only surprise to this Grandma is that it took the economy, it seems, for people to go back to their roots.


Family members helping each other has been going on for generations.  Grandmas being there for the parents of the grandchildren so the grandchildren’s lives are better brings such



Joy,

Mema

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