This option is not for everyone. You need to sit down and discuss this with your parents. It’s not uncommon for adult children to feel it’s their duty to move their parents into their home and care for them. However, when they talk with their mother or father about this they’re often surprised their parent doesn’t want this. Likewise, some elderly parents expect their kids to make a place for them in their home when they can no longer care for themselves. This often isn’t realistic. Adult children may literally not have space for their mother or father to move in; money to pay for things their parent needs as they age (or to move to a bigger home); be able to afford to work less hours or take time off to provide the help their parent needs or, may not have the fortitude to be with their parents that much.
Unless adult children and their mother or father have established a relationship as adults that allows for each other’s differences, throwing parents and children together after years of being apart can create a lot of stress for both parties. Even if the parent/child relationship is strong and both sides are respectful of each other’s time, space and lifestyle, adding a parent to your household can be hard on significant others and grandchildren. This decision takes careful consideration for everyone involved, you, your parent, your kids, your significant other, your siblings, because it impacts all of them in some way.
Pros…
An opportunity to give back to your mother or father for all they’ve done for you
Cons…
If the above benefit sounds rosy it’s because it usually is. Rarely does the dream match reality.
High stress simply because your parent’s needs will increase the older they get.
