I know not everyone has great relationships with their folks, but I wish “living with your parents” and generational compounds was the norm, not taboo, in western culture.
Think about it. It solves a whole bunch of worsening problems at once:
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Lonely seniors get attention and (when possible) stuff to do.
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It’d also keeps many out of nursing homes, which is a tremendous global expense.
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Children get a family “tribe” to live with, which is what our brains are wired for anyway.
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It takes some financial pressure off kids’ parents, which buys them some time with them.
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Saves on hired child caregivers (again, a massive cost).
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“Safer” social dynamics, IMO. It’s harder for a single messed up family member to do so much damaged, and offers a bigger support net.
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Blunts expensive housing, cost of living, generational wealth gaps, carbon footprints.
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The structure doesn’t have to be “traditional” these days, either. And it doesn’t preclude assisted living, which can be a massive burden on children.
In other words, this is a problem that shouldn’t really exist in the first place, IMO. It’s not natural.