| Issue of the Day: Family Stress Increases as Parents Move In |
Published Friday, August 28th, 2009
The number of older adults in the United States who are moving in with their younger families is increasing the need for houses with “in-law’ suites across the entire country. This presents emotional difficulties for both seniors and caregivers. According to estimates, there are now 34 million American families who now live together in the United States. Social workers who specialize in caregivers of elderly parents suggest five main ideas to alleviate some of the pressure: talk about issues before events get stressful and communication more difficult, know where to get help, don’t do this by yourself (get help when needed), understand both your finances, and get plenty of sleep, exercise, and a regular diet.
According to the US Census Bureau, living arrangements for seniors has rapidly become a great concern in the last decade. The largest percentage of senior citizens 65 and older, 67.8%, lives in family households whether with spouses or other relatives. The next largest, 32%, are living in non-family settings such as assisted living, living alone or living with nonrelatives.
Tags: Seniors, Social Issues
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