Trendspotting: Americans Are Happy in Their Multigenerational Homes

NewsWire: 4/28/21

• The isolation brought on the pandemic convinced many older Americans to move closer to their children--or vice versa. In a recent survey, most adults in multigenerational households said that this arrangement has helped strengthen family relationships. (The Wall Street Journal)
• NH: We know that multigenerational living has increased since the start of the pandemic. (See “Multigenerational Homes are Smoking Hot.”) It’s happening in both directions: Young adults are returning to live with Mom and Dad, and parents and grandparents are moving in with their children. Now here’s a survey showing that those living in these homes are feeling pretty good about it.
• Nearly all Americans living in a multigenerational home (98%) say that their household functions successfully. Most respondents also said that living together had strengthened bonds among family members (79%), made it easier to care for the needs or one or more family members (79%), and had “positive impacts” on their physical and mental health (76%). An equal share said it improved the finances of at least one family member. Fully 72% said they plan to continue this arrangement long term.

• Two-thirds said that economic considerations played a role in their living arrangement. Over half (57%) specifically cited the pandemic as a driving factor. Other factors that motivated the formation of multigenerational households include the need for eldercare (34%), childcare or child education needs (34%), change in job status or underemployment (30%), and health care costs for one or more family members (25%).

• The survey also offers some additional stats on multigenerational living. According to a January poll, 26% of Americans are living in a household with at least three generations. In 2011, this figure was just 7%. 
• The latest number is notably higher than the last estimate of multigenerational households from the Pew Research Center, which was 20% in 2016. It just keeps climbing higher.