Living With an Aging Parent

Abstract

In the United States and globally, increasing numbers of older parents are living with their adult children. The decision for older parents and their adult children to live together requires careful thought and planning. Both the older adult’s and adult child’s physicians should be consulted in this process. Over a third of caregivers state that when they need information about this transition, they turn to their doctor or other health care provider. In this edition of the “Care of the Aging Patient” series, we review the prevalence and epidemiology of adult children caring for a parent in their home, and describe a framework for clinicians to guide their patients through this transition. We describe the physician’s ongoing role in caring for and advising both the older parent and the adult children during common stages of multigenerational living: before the move, during co-residency and subsequent care transitions.

Insights Into the Older Adults' World: Concepts of Aging, Care, and Using Assistive Technology in Late Adulthood

“…In Germany, still about a half of all dependent older adults receive care by the own family members (63). Already supported by different legislative measures throughout Europe in terms of a "family caregiver leave, " the obviously favored option of a trustful intrafamilial and intergenerational solidarity (see section Handling of Care in the Family) might be conceptually broadened by the resurgence of multigenerational houses (64). In this context, future research should investigate countryspecific differences particularly focusing on the perceptions of aging and care as well as preferences related to the provided nursing care.…”

Coping and distress among spouse caregivers to older patients with cancer: An intricate path

“…Furthermore, the study included only partners and not other family members or close friends who serve as informal caregivers to older patients. [45][46][47] An additional crosscultural study including different caregivers may allow for broader generalizations and interpretation.…”

Insights into caregivers’ perspectives on abuse of older persons: a qualitative exploratory study in southwest Nigeria

“…Extant literature documents elder abuse perpetration by family members in association with changes in family dynamics. These changes occur as adjustments are made to accommodate the older person within multigenerational households 7 34 62. Many family caregivers are either in or approaching midlife, with declining youthfulness and increased stress such as higher demands at the workplace and within their household, especially with adolescent children 63–65.…”

“…The proportion of older persons (ie, persons aged 60 years and above) has been increasing globally and is projected to reach an estimated 1.5 billion persons by 2050 1–3. This global increase in the proportion of older persons has led to increased demands on the middle-aged working population for economic, social and physical support 4–7. The combination of increasing proportion of the older persons associated with increasing old-age dependency has led to increased interest in ensuring older person’s well-being 8.…”