INTERGENERATIONAL HOMES HELP FAMILY
A way to keep aging parents close while offering both them and you needed privacy
When aging parents reach a point where they need help to get around, have health issues that need close monitoring, or are just too lonely on their own, intergenerational homes can offer a way to keep family members close without driving each other crazy. After all, no matter how much we love our parents, there is such a thing as being too close. And it’s pretty likely our parents feel the same way about us too. We all crave our own space. For Giovanna Di Tirro, who has lived with her mother in a custom-built home in Notre-Dame-de-l’Île-Perrot for the last eight years, the intergenerational layout was a practical solution that offered both women peace of mind. “It’s convenient to be close to a loved one but you still have your own privacy,” she said. Di Tirro said her mother has had two strokes since moving in with her, but was able to recover completely with no side effects because Di Tirro was with her to notice the signs and rush her to the hospital for treatment. “Thank God she was living with me,” Di Tirro said. “Thank God I was there.” Unlike plexes or homes with rental suites, intergenerational homes share a single address, and often include shared access to living space. But separate kitchens and lockable doors provide a means for two generations to choose when they want to come together and when to spend time apart. A quick search on Centris for intergenerational properties in the West Island and in Vaudreuil-Soulanges found a little over 50 properties, ranging in price from a $260,000 handyman special in Notre-Dame-de-l’ÎlePerrot to a luxurious $3.9-million equestrian estate with a coach house in St-Lazare. Best to check the rules in your municipality before moving ahead with renovations. Sadly, many towns discourage intergenerational homes. The 2016 Census found that a little over six per cent of Canadian households were multigenerational, with at least three generations living together under one roof and it seems likely that the demand is likely to rise. By 2036, statisticians estimate more than one-quarter of Quebecers will be over the age of 65. While many seniors will be able to continue living independently well past retirement, eventually illness, safety concerns, loneliness or financial pressures will require a lifestyle change. Some will choose condos, others seniors’ residences or assisted living facilities, but for others, there’s just no place like a family home.