51 million Americans live in multigenerational homes. Is it right for your family?

by Sally Abrahms, AARP Bulletin, April, 2013

Have you noticed more people around your neighborhood? That long-gone college grad is back across the street, and Grandma's moved in, too. The older couple next door has a full house — their son, his wife and two kids. The ranch a few doors down was just bought — jointly — by adult children and their parents.

Three generations under one roof, known as multigenerational housing, is here to stay.

According to a Pew Research Center analysis of the latest U.S. Census Bureau data, approximately 51 million Americans, or 16.7 percent of the population, live in a house with at least two adult generations, or a grandparent and at least one other generation, under one roof. The Pew analysis also reported a 10.5 percent increase in multigeneration households from 2007 to 2009. And a 2012 survey by national home builder PulteGroup found that 32 percent of adult children expect to eventually share their house with a parent.

"It used to be older people whose money had run out who were living with their children, and now it's the next generation that can't keep up," says Louis Tenenbaum, a founder of the Aging in Place Institute, which promotes "multigen" remodeling.

True, multigenerational families bunking together is hardly news in certain cultures. In 2009, 9.4 percent of Asian households, 9.5 percent of African American ones and 10.3 percent of Latino homes were multigenerational (compared with 3.7 percent of non-Hispanic white households).

But strong indications show that multigenerational living is on the rise: The U.S. 65-plus population is expected to more than double to 92 million by 2060. Sixty-one percent of Americans ages 25 to 34 have friends or family who have moved back in with parents or relatives (because they have no job, no money and no other place to live). And the latest census projections show the clear growth in cultures, such as Latinos, that already embrace multigenerational housing (non-Hispanic whites will no longer make up the majority of the population by 2043).

Could this be an idyllic world of built-in child care, elder care and three square meals? A solution for avoiding isolation in old age? A way for pooled finances to go further?

Another Pew report did find that more than three-quarters of "boomerangs" — the young adults ages 25 to 34 who move back in with their parents — were satisfied with their living situation. Almost half paid rent and nearly 90 percent helped with household expenses. And in a 2011 report of multigen dwellers by Generations United, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group, 82 percent said the setup brought them closer, 72 percent mentioned improved finances, and 75 percent saw care benefits.

Consider long-term care costs alone. A 2012 MetLife Mature Market Institute survey put the average annual cost of a private nursing home room at $90,520, a semiprivate at $81,030 and assisted living at $42,600. Add to those costs the value of peace of mind knowing a loved one is being cared for by family, and multigenerational housing may be the new assisted living plan.

Designing for multigenerational living

Builders and remodelers are ready to support the growing trend. Want or need to stay put? The number of certified aging-in-place specialists who help older folks remain safely at home has more than doubled to nearly 5,000 since 2008. And the construction of new houses has started to get off the ground again.

Some builders have begun offering two master suites, a den or family room that can be converted into a bedroom and bathroom on the first floor, and other "bonus areas" with flexible space that can change with family needs. A two-car garage might shrink to one car and the extra area morph into living space for a grandparent or boomerang kid. Builders and remodelers are offering universal design features (wider hallways and doors, good lighting, few or no steps) that work for a baby stroller or a wheelchair. Some builders are installing infrastructure for future bathroom grab bars and stacking closets for down-the-road elevators.

In 2011, national builder Lennar introduced its first Next Gen house in Phoenix, geared to more than one generation. Now Lennar offers more than 50 Next Gen floor plans in 120 communities in California, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, New Jersey, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Next Gen's concept is two houses in one: The main home has three or four bedrooms, and there's an attached unit with its own front entrance, kitchen, bedroom, living space and garage. Perfect for an aging parent (or lucky nanny or guest, or as a man cave), it's typically one-fifth the size of the main house. An adjoining inner door can be left open so the house can be one big home or, when closed, two residences.

Before Sharing a Multigenerational Home, You'll Want to

Discuss expectations and responsibilities before the move: Who's going to pay what bills for current and future expenses? Which areas are communal space and which are private? Are there family rules for laundry, TV, cleaning, cooking, opposite-sex sleepovers?
Discuss parental responsibilities with other siblings: What will they do — take Dad to doctors, pay his bills online, offer respite care?
Include age-friendly and privacy features if renovating or building: Consider wider doorways, brighter lighting, grab bars, low-pile carpeting and a separate space for additional family members. Find out if there are zoning restrictions for attached dwellings.
Divvy up chores: If possible, let family members choose the ones they want.
Accept realities: Understand that people's personalities and habits don't usually change.

http://www.aarp.org/home-family/friends-family/info-04-2013/three-generations-household-american-family.html?intcmp=HPBB3G

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2013 by Amy Goyer | Multigenerational & Family Issues

As a music therapist, I worked for many years with older adults and children with special needs using music as a tool to achieve non-musical goals. I used music to encourage expression and social interaction, physical activity and movement, brain stimulation, healing, verbal expression and communication, expression of emotions, reminiscence and even achieve simple eye contact. I created a hand-chime choir with my adult day services center participants who traveled around performing for their peers at other centers. One of my favorite experiences was the intergenerational choir I conducted. Older adults who attended a senior center joined children from a local school — we performed at the Ohio Governor's Conference on Aging! Talk about a self-esteem builder and instilling a sense of purpose — singers of every age were thrilled.

When my grandparents were living, I used my music therapy skills with them as well. My grandmother Genevieve had dementia, and eventually became blind. She loved music. I have wonderful memories of my visits with Granddaddy CV and her, especially when I fixed their old phonograph and got out those hard, brittle 78 records and we'd play them, singing and dancing together and laughing deliciously at our silliness. When she could no longer dance, I would play piano for her and sing. Even as her verbal skills diminished, she could still sing her favorite hymns. When the words would no longer come, the melodies remained and she could hum along. In the last days of her life, the healing power of music was calming for her. (Read the AARP Bulletin story from Sally Abrahms here.)

Now — 30 years after I got my degree in music therapy — I find myself using my music therapy skills with my own parents, who live with me. My Mom enjoys music, and she had a stroke more than 20 years ago. We've used music therapeutically for her over the years — from melodic intonation therapy to enhance her verbal skills to using music to motivate her to move her body and enjoy exercises.

My Dad now has Alzheimer's disease and glaucoma. As his vision deteriorates, and his cognitive abilities slowly diminish, his activities are becoming more limited. But these four things are the joys in his life — truly his quality of life: his family (especially Mom), physical activity (he loves to walk and exercise,) his dog, Jackson and music. Music is indispensible for those with Alzheimer's. When he sings — his true essence shines through.

These are some of the quick and easy ways I incorporate music into our everyday lives:

I keep a CD player on the back porch where Dad likes to sit in the sunshine and listen to his favorite tunes — everything from classical to World War II-era music to Josh Groban. It transforms a solitary time into a fun, relaxing or stimulating experience and activity for him.
I keep a DVD library and I use the DVR to tape musicals (hint: TCM airs them frequently!). We watch them often as the plots are easier to follow, they keep Dad's attention and Mom enjoys them … and Dad and I sing along! Dad and I frequently have spontaneous dance contests as we view them. Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, The Sound of Music and Oklahoma are just a few of our faves.
Dad likes to take Jackson for several walks every day, and I turn our walks into musical adventures. Physical activity and music are a golden combination for brain stimulation. It's amazing to me the songs that Dad will remember when we're walking — the other day he sang one of his college fraternity songs for me that I had never heard before — see video I shot (above) when we got home as he sang it for Mom. He's so adorable! When we walk, if he begins to drag his feet, I encourage him to play drill sergeant (he's a WWII veteran) and he calls out the march and then we sing patriotic songs. His pace instantly picks up and the shuffling stops.

These are just a few ways I use music, and you can too. Music really is a unique and special tool and you don't have to be a professional music therapist to utilize it in your daily routines to enhance yours and your loved ones' lives. I use music therapeutically for myself too - to calm, relax, energize and express my caregiving experience.

http://blog.aarp.org/2013/03/15/amy-goyer-music-therapy-as-a-tool-for-caregiver/

Senior Helpers In Home Health Care Mid Tennessee

Sunday, April 7, 2013

3 Generations Under One Roof

Before Sharing a Multigenerational Home, You'll Want to

Monday, April 1, 2013

Three Ways Caregivers Can Use Music Therapeutically