More Families Living Under One Roof

Q. I'm thinking of moving my 90-year-old father in with the family. Is this common and what should I know?

Multigenerational living is on the rise. As a matter of fact, about 6.6 million U.S. households in 2009 had at least three generations of family members, an increase of 30 percent since 2000, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures.

When "multigenerational" is more broadly defined to include at least two adult generations, a record 49 million, or one in six people, live in such households, according to a study released recently by the Pew Research Center.

The rise in multigenerational households is heavily influenced by economics, with many young adults known as "boomerang kids" moving back home with mom and dad because of limited job prospects and a housing crunch, according to the Pew report.

But extended life spans and increased options in home health and outpatient care over nursing homes have also played a role.

Other findings from recent studies:

• The most common multigenerational family is an older parent who owns the house, living with an adult child and grandchild.
• Older women are more likely than older men to live in a multigenerational household.

Consider the emotional, financial, comfort and safety aspects of intergenerational living before you move your dad in with you. There are many things you should consider before merging households. Matthew Kaplan Ph.D., Penn State Intergenerational Programs extension specialist, said that families should approach decisions of combining households from a partnership perspective.

“Ask yourself, ‘Can I get the whole family behind the idea?’ When a decision is made to combine families, expectations must be set right away. Family members must listen and become engaged in conversation. The more the entire family buys in at the beginning, the more likely they will be to come up with great ideas,” he noted.

“People need independence, but seeking interdependence and family unity are important as well, particularly in today’s hectic and demanding world.” Perhaps your father would rather stay at home with a little extra help?

For a variety of tools and resources that can help you decide whether or not to combine families as well as offer tips if you decide to make the move, go to http://www.makewayformom.com/.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Carroll County, log on to www.homeinstead.com/627.1. For more about the research, log on to http://pewsocialtrends.org/pubs/752/the-return-of-the-multi-generational-family-household.

Maintaining Weight as We Age Means More Exercise

Q.I’ve exercised most of my adult years and now, at 79, enjoy good health. I’ve been trying to lose a little extra weight that I gained over the holidays, but I’ve been having a terrible time. Is this my imagination or am I doing something wrong?

Unfortunately, no. You are not imagining your weight struggles. A study of more than 34,000 healthy women – half of whom were 55 or older – found that it takes these women on a usual diet approximately 60 minutes a day of moderate-intensity activity just to maintain a normal weight.

The study published recently in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) also found physical activity was associated with less weight gain over 13 years only among women of normal weight. “These data suggest that the 2008 federal recommendation for 150 minutes per week, while clearly sufficient to lower the risks of chronic diseases, is insufficient for weight gain prevention absent caloric restriction,” according to the report in the March 24 issue of JAMA.

For women consuming a usual diet, physical activity was associated with less weight gain only among women whose BMI was lower than 25. “Because the average U.S. adult gains weight with age, developing ways to prevent unhealthful weight gain would help them avoid having to lose weight and then trying to maintain that loss. Compared with the vast body of research on the treatment of overweight and obese individuals, little research exists on preventing weight gain,” the authors write.

What is clear is the fact that staying active is vital to healthy aging. Research also reveals that remaining active can become more difficult, which is why it is so important that you continue to be diligent about your exercise program. A recent national survey conducted for the Home Instead Senior Care® network found that 74 percent of seniors 65 and older say that staying physically active is a major challenge.

Companionship is a vital component of staying active. So encourage a friend to exercise with you or join a class. Or consider a caregiver companion from Home Instead Senior Care. Many enjoy hobbies and activities with their clients.

For more information about Home Instead Senior Care of Carroll County, visit www.homeinstead.com/627.1. For more about the study, log on to http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/abstract/303/12/117.