What Elderly Parents Need to Do When Moving in With Their Adult Children

By- J R

Even if you're healthy and active, there may come a time where you want to move in with your adult children. However, it may not always be so simple. It requires a bit of time and preparation on both accounts. Here's what you need to do when moving in with your adult children.

Figure Out Your Finances

Before moving in, you and your child need to sit down and have a serious talk about finances. After the conversation, decide whether your contribution will go towards the rent or mortgage, food or utility bills. This is particularly important if you live on a fixed income, like a pension or retirement. Make sure everyone is in agreement before you move in.

Living Arrangements

Are you going to be on the second floor? Or, are you going to be situated on the first floor to avoid any unnecessary accidents? | Unsplash

You and your child will have to sort out the living arrangements. For example, are you going to be on the second floor? Or, are you going to be situated on the first floor to avoid any unnecessary accidents? If you're placed on the second floor of your child's home, you may want to consider installing a home lift. A home lift can make life easier for everyone in the house as it's a much better option than the stairs. Granted, this does depend on the living situation. Bear in mind that installing a home lift is both an investment and process. You can only do this if the house is large enough or you're moving into an in-law apartment.

Not only can they take up to a week to install, they also average at around £30,000. You'll need to ensure your child is okay with making this renovation as well. If they give you the okay, you can look up a domestic lifts comparison site to see which one is the best option. Home lifts are also ideal if you or your spouse is disabled.

Set Realistic Expectations

Similar to the finances, it's also important to go over the expectations you all have for each other. For example, you need to determine who's cooking and who's shopping. What areas of the house are considered private? These are factors all of you must go over before anything is settled. This is done to ensure that no conflict ensues in the interim. If you hope to maintain good relationships with family members in transition it is important to communicate clearly, and often.

One thing we feel should be mentioned is that although your child will always be your pride and joy, they're still adults. They no longer need to ask for your permission for anything. You'd be surprised how many parents let the nostalgia get to them.

Consider Health Care

It's no secret that as people get older, their body may not be what it used to be. As such, it's not uncommon for elderly parents to require assistance with living. However, your children need to know what's going on, so they can accommodate you. If there's something wrong, you must tell your children. It's not fair if you just spring it up out of the blue. If you have arthritis, for example, some activities and responsibilities may not be doable.

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