Multigenerational Housing: Options and Benefits for Seniors

Takeaways

• Multigenerational living can reduce social isolation and loneliness among older adults by fostering a sense of community and connection with younger generations.
• Various forms of multigenerational living exist, including living with family, renting with students, participating in student-senior programs, and residing in retirement communities near college campuses.
• Benefits to people living in multigenerational settings include cognitive stimulation, emotional support, financial relief, and shared assistance with daily tasks for both older and younger participants.

According to Pew Research, 18 percent of Americans are 65 and older, and more than one in five Americans will be in this age range by 2054.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that older adults are at greater risk for social isolation and warns that loneliness puts people at risk for severe mental and physical health problems. Older people spend around seven hours alone daily. In contrast, people younger than 40 are alone an average of three and a half hours a day. Other risk factors for isolation include experiencing health problems and living in rural areas away from community and support.

Multigenerational Living

Multigenerational living presents a possible solution to loneliness in old age. In multigenerational homes and facilities, older adults may benefit from a sense of community with younger people, stronger relationships with extended family members, or less financial strain. This type of arrangement can take many forms, such as:

• Facilities where students provide companionship and support
• Renting with a college student
• Multigenerational households
• Retirement communities on or near college campuses

Students and Older Adults Living Together

A famous example of a multigenerational senior living facility is Humanitas Deventer, a care home in Holland where older adults live with students. Students spend time with the retirees in exchange for free housing. Six university students live in the care home at a time, taking turns cooking for the residents. They also play games and socialize with residents.

Living arrangements like Humanitas Deventer can cater to the needs of students seeking affordable housing and older adults looking to connect with people across generations.

Another intergenerational housing program, LinkAges, connects people with Ph.D.s with older adults in the community. The program matches students looking for lower rent with older adults needing assistance. The postdocs help with basic chores and offer company.

These types of arrangements seem to be less common in the United States. However, older adults may create their own opportunities for multigenerational living. They may be able to move in with family members or open their homes to student renters who can assist with chores and cooking.

Multigenerational Communities

Many young people in college prefer having their own apartment so they can focus on academics. Older adults may also appreciate having their own living space as well, so they are not disturbed by students up late socializing or studying.

Some multigenerational communities that reflect these preferences involve individuals from different generations living in the same community but in separate units. For example, retirement communities near college campuses present an opportunity for older adults and younger people to meet in the community but have their own residences. In the United States, there are over 100 senior living communities on or near college campuses.

Arizona State University (ASU) has a retirement home called Mirabella at ASU, located close to the student dorms. Residents can access university resources such as the library and can attend classes and sporting events. Taking college courses, being a part of the community, and getting to know students can improve the lives of older adults, offering cognitive benefits and lessening loneliness. While 30 percent of Mirabella’s residents have a connection to the university, you don’t have to have attended the university to qualify for this type of housing.

Most university-affiliated senior living facilities are continuing care retirement communities, which offer support and assistance to meet a resident’s evolving needs.

In the United States and other countries, special housing developments that purposely integrate senior care facilities and children’s daycare programs also are seeking to connect young and older generations.

The Benefits of Multigenerational Living

For older adults facing the prospect of isolation, multigenerational living may offer benefits such as the following:

• Social cohesion and companionship. Limited contact with other people may lead to a higher risk of negative health outcomes, from high blood pressure to dementia. In addition, research suggests that living in a multigenerational setting affords better mental health and psychological well-being for older adults.
• Physical assistance. Multigenerational living can help ensure that seniors have someone available to help with daily tasks, such as managing medications and getting to medical appointments.
• Financial benefits. Older adults may find that sharing their home, especially in areas with high costs of living, may help them pay their bills. Households with more than one generation under one roof also may be better able to pool their resources to protect against poverty.
• Cognitive stimulation. Studies on brain health and aging emphasize the importance of engagement for cognitive function in older adults, including potentially delaying or preventing dementia. Younger generations may offer new perspectives or expose older adults to new trends and technologies.

At the same time, multigenerational living can provide elders with opportunities to share their own wisdom and emotional support. Helping young adults navigate life’s changes may offer a sense of meaning and perhaps an even happier and more fulfilling retirement.