The popularity of a multi-generational custom home is increasing. Families want to take care of their elderly grandparents or parents as long as possible before they need to move them into assisted living. These homes are perfect for families with adult children who wish to live with their elderly parents. They can also be used by other family members, friends or loved ones.
At the end of this article, we’ll discuss different living arrangements for your family and what to consider before deciding to live with extended relatives.
BENEFITS OF LIVING IN A MULTI-GENERATIONAL CUSTOM HOME
1. Financial benefits
The combined financial resources of generations can make a home much more luxurious and comfortable than if they were to do it separately. Maintaining one home is cheaper than maintaining two or more. It is much cheaper to maintain one residence than two (or more).
It will help you and your family to reduce the carbon footprint. This allows people to save money for important things such as retirement, vacations that will last a lifetime, charitable contributions, college funds, etc.
2. Emotional/relationship benefits
Living together in new home construction in Myrtle Beach can help grandparents, great-grandparents, and parents form a strong bond. It is even more true if the living arrangements are tailored to each individual’s personality, needs and preferences. It is easier to connect and interact with each other.
This is not the best situation for all families, but some families would find that living together is an enriching experience.
3. Better division of labour
Living with multiple generations can be a great blessing for grandparents, who will get to spend more time with their grandchildren. They may even be willing to assist with homework, mentoring or child care. Adult children can also help their parents with housework, chores, cooking and shopping, as well as technology, pet-sitting and yard work.
The younger adults, who are more physically fit, can often handle the more demanding physical work while the older adults can handle the less physically demanding tasks that would take too much time for young adults.
4. Reduced strain on family caregivers
It can be very stressful for a family caregiver to care for a parent or grandparent in poor health that doesn’t live near them. It is difficult to travel back and forth between the home of a parent and your own to take care of them while also trying to balance your family and home. Even if it is only thirty minutes to get across town, this is still an hour of commute time per day that can add stress for the caregiver and their family.
5. Children learn to value family and teamwork.
The children also benefit because they can develop close relationships with their grandparents and perhaps even their great-grandparents. Everyone pitches in to help each other. The love and perspectives of their grandparents are more apparent to them. It helps them to appreciate the wisdom of older generations, and it broadens their perspective.
6. Everyone can enjoy a better quality of life
Today, loneliness is a problem that affects every generation. Older adults feel important, needed, and loved when extended family members live together. Children receive more guidance, support and spend time with their loved ones.
Parents no longer have to feel alone when it comes to parenting and the responsibilities that come with raising children. Everyone feels less alone. Healthy family dynamics can benefit everyone.
7. Safety and security are improved
Security is improved when more people are in the custom-built home, with different schedules. There is always someone home to keep an eye on the home and make sure it is not empty. A vacant home will attract more burglars.
With adult children or grandchildren nearby, grandparents or parents can receive help more quickly in the event of a medical emergency or a fall than if they were living alone.
Considerations When Building A Custom Home for Multiple Generations
Every generation requires a level of privacy and a space that they can call their own to get away from the other activities in the home. People can get into tension if they feel “crammed together”.
Universal Design is a good idea to ensure that any family member with a disability or aging parents will not have accessibility problems.
Each generation should have their own private access to the outside so that they can come and leave without disturbing anyone else in the house.
Every generation would like its own deck, patio and/or yard.
Calculate the amount of garage space and parking that each person needs.
MULTI-GENERATIONAL LIVING ARRANGEMENT OPTIONS
Double master suites with a shared living area and kitchen. It is especially useful if older generations are helping with child care or cooking for the younger generations.
The same house can have multiple master suites and common living areas.
Duplexes or townhouses are a great way to live. The extra unit can be sold or rented if the family does not need it.
Basement apartment for each generation.
The backyard is a great place to have a guest house.
The “in-law” apartment is a full home over the garage.
Two houses are either on two adjacent lots or one with a breezeway or walkway between them.
If you buy an existing house, try to find a home with a layout that suits your family. It may seem cheaper to buy an existing home, but the cost could increase dramatically if you have to renovate or build on the house to accommodate everyone’s lifestyles and needs. If your situation differs, a home built for an elderly family may not work for you.
Many families choose to build their own custom homes instead of purchasing a pre-owned home. Custom homes in Myrtle Beach allow you to design the perfect floor plan for your family.
You can also discuss with your builder the zoning and building codes when you are deciding which arrangement is best for you family.
A multi-generational home may not be for everyone, but for those who want to combine resources or prepare for the possibility of future generations, it could be the best solution.
Custom home builders can guide you through the process of building the multi-generational house that best suits your family.
Looking for a builder in Myrtle Beach to construct a multigenerational house? Call Dawol Homes today.
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Dawol Homes
9404 Hwy 17 Bypass,
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 294-2859
Dawol Homes Sales Office
3100 Dick Pond Rd # E
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
843-294-2859
We build homes in: Cypress River Plantation, Waterway Palms, Waterbridge, Murrells Inlet, Collins Creek, Bellwood Landing, Carolina Forest, Plantation Lakes, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, Surfside Beach, Pawleys Island, Litchfield Plantation