Three Generations, One House

To break the doldrums of winter, I took my kids out tonight to get some ice cream. When we were almost finished and as I sat and wondered how my son got more ice cream on his face than in his mouth, an elderly gentleman came in with two young children. It was clear that grandpa was taking his grandchildren out for a treat. I watched them order and as grandpa was paying, the young girl asked if they could buy some ice cream and take it home. But who's home was she talking about? Back to Grandma and Grandpa's? Back to her Mom and Dad's? Or, in today's society, is that all of the above?
With the elderly population growing and the costs of healthcare rising against an unsteady economy, more seniors are moving in with their children, who themselves are now parents. This can be both harmful and healthy to all generations involved. From the decision on what furniture or belongings can fit into a probably already crowded space to the changing of schedules to accommodate both young and old, new stresses are introduced to the family dynamic. Boundaries must be established as to not make the grandparents a permanent "babysitter" for the kids and to allow the grandparents to continue to live their lives to the fullest. This new living arrangement should be embraced and looked at as a learning experience for all family members. Multi-generational arrangements should be cherished and treated as a time to share pictures, stories and maybe the occasional trip to get ice cream.

Men Assuming the Caregiving Role

According to the National Alliance for Caregiving and the Alzheimer's Association, men now make up 40% of family care providers. This number is up 19 percent from a similar study in 1996. Men have become more of a "hands on" style of caregiver in the past 10 years, straying from their roles of just taking care of financial records, arranging parent's schedules, etc. In some cases they are now the primary source for personal hygeine (including changing of incontinence supplies and bathing), meals, medications and other tasks that have in the past been left to a female relative such as a sister or wife. Why the change? Several factors such as more women being full time workers, smaller family and support roles and the rising costs off healthcare all have contributed.