Multigenerational living has taught my kids about the realities of aging. It's a benefit I wasn't expecting.
The author shares personal experiences of living in a multigenerational household in Australia. She highlights how daily interaction with her aging parents provides her children with a compassionate and realistic perspective on the aging process.
Why it matters
Multigenerational living is increasingly viewed as a solution to social isolation among the elderly and a way to foster intergenerational empathy.
The author and her family of five have been living with her parents since the beginning of the year. Courtesy of Melissa Noble My family of five moved in with my parents earlier this year. There are plenty of benefits to multigenerational living that we experience every day. One thing I wasn't expecting was that my kids are learning more about the realities of about aging. Since March, my family of five has been living with my parents in their two-story home on the Gold Coast, Australia. The youngest member of our household is our daughter, who is 3, while the oldest is my dad, who is 81. When people talk about multigenerational living, the conversation usually centers on saving money.
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