It’s clear that the idea of living at home with family
members - with a spouse, or together with grown children
and even grandchildren - is gaining traction. Communal
living has many social, emotional and economic upsides
that benefit all family members, but it’s important to plan
ahead so everyone is comfortable.
Money mindfulness: The other issue to be mindful of
is money. Unlike a roommate situation, family finances
can get murky. From the start, be clear on who pays for
what, from utilities, to child care to dinners out. To make
sure things stay on track and to anticipate upcoming
onetime expenses, a monthly budget meeting is always
a good idea.
If this sounds like a solution that would work for your
family, it’s important to think through how you would Seek support: Make yourself aware of the resources
handle some basic things, from adapting your existing in your community to help you or your family member
space to managing money, to ensure a smooth transition. maintain independent living as long as possible. For
example, SCAN Health Plan also offers a number of
Respect for privacy: The first consideration is programs and services at no cost to seniors and their
recognizing the privacy needs of others. Some developers caregivers in many California counties. SCAN’s mission
are building housing designed for intergenerational living. is to keep seniors healthy and independent, and that
Even if you’re not planning on moving to one of these extends beyond its own plan membership.
units, their floor plans can provide some inspiration and
guidance if you have the room and budget to renovate Learn more about how SCAN Health Plan can help you
your existing accommodations to add more separation. or your family member by visiting scanhealthplan.com.
Walls, a private entrance, a shower or a kitchenette are
upgrades that can make a home more functional for
multigenerational living. If renovations are not practical,
it’s still important to talk about how to manage the space
you have to accommodate the additional family members.
Cooking, showering, bedtimes and parking are all things
to think about.
Communication: Combining households can be
difficult, and there will be a period of adjustment. Both sets
of adults may come in with schedules and habits they’ve
grown accustomed to, along with varying tolerance levels
for TV, noise and dust. This is especially true if family
members are readjusting to the presence of children after
a decade or more of child-free living. The key to making
it work is a commitment to communicate, which means
everyone gets a chance to be heard, and everyone works
toward a compromise.
NOVEMBER 2018
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WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE |
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