Whether it’s your parents moving in with you or your in-laws, chances are you may not have been planning to live in a multigenerational household. While it can be nice to have other helpful hands in the house, there still has to be some boundaries set to make the experience enjoyable for everyone involved. Plenty of reasons may have led to family members living with you now, so try to be as accommodating as possible. Understand they don’t want to be a burden to their children, even though it may seem like they are at times. Here are some tips for providing senior care to your parents or in-laws as they live under your roof.

Set Expectations And Boundaries

Every family situation is different. Some people may not have to tell their parents anything and they will understand boundaries and respect your space. However, if you feel like your expectations aren’t being met, then the earlier you can talk to them about it, the better the living situation will be. If your parents are physically able to help around the house, don’t hesitate to ask them for help with certain things. You shouldn’t feel like you are serving them at all times unless they are physically unable to do most things and require a high level of senior care. Setting expectations and boundaries upfront will help your own mentality and hopefully make the living arrangement easier to cope with.

Understand Your Parents’ Situation

Most of the aging population doesn’t think they will have to live with their children until it happens. Keep this in mind when you talk to them and continue treating them like your parents rather than like your kids. They could be in a tough spot as they lose their independence by not living in their own home. With their roles being changed, they may need some guidance to know what is off-limits in your home. Understanding that your multigenerational household is going to be the new normal for a while can help everyone feel more comfortable. And if they have limited mobility, a great way to show you care about and understand their situation is to install a wheelchair ramp or other assistive devices to help them get around.

Take Advantage Of The Benefits Of Multigenerational Living

Living with your elderly parents will bring plenty of challenges. However, you don’t know how long the moments will last, so try to make the most of them. If you have kids, they likely love the fact that they get to spend more time with their grandparents than ever before. And if they are physically able to help around the house, use their time and effort to your advantage by sharing some of the responsibilities. Living in a multigenerational household probably isn’t the ideal situation for anyone involved, but your happiness level is all about how you approach it.

Next Day Access can help make multigenerational households more accessible for everyone. We can install a temporary or permanent wheelchair ramp, porch lift, stairlift or other product to make mobility a breeze. You have plenty of challenges on your hands with more people living in your home, so contact us today to ease the burden in some aspects.