Together Again: 16% Of Americans Live With Multiple Generations
BOSTON (CBS) - Andrea Amir and her mom are living under the same roof for a first time since Andrea left home. It happened out of necessity when her father died and her mom suffered some health problems.
Andrea decided even though she had a family of her own, it was time to make room for mom.
"We determined it was better for her to have someone that was with her all the time. Someone to take her to her doctors appointments," she said.
Statistics from the Pew Research Center show 49 million Americans, more than 16 percent of the population, now live in a household with adults from two generations. This is not a new trend according to Dr. John L. Graham, University of California professor and author of the book 'Together Again'.
WBZ-TV's Paula Ebben reports.
"This is actually the way things used to work and the way they still work all around the world," he said.
Over the last few decades families in the United States drifted away from that tradition.
"In 1940 over 60% of elderly widows lived with an adult child. By 1990 that number dropped to less than 20%," Graham explained.
He sees it all coming back and not just when a parent is sick.
"We're finally beginning to realize we depend on extended family," he said.
Graham advises families to set up some ground rules so that everyone knows what is expected up front.
"Setting up the rules, what kind of privacy, expenses, talking about moving out if things don't work," he said.
He also cautions families to keep all siblings in the loop.
"One of the issues has to do with inheritance and things like that. Make sure everyone understands what's being given and what's being taken," he said.
