7.3 Percent of Seniors Live With Relatives in U.S.

• November 19th 2013

by Shilpi Paul

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Is the U.S. starting to resemble cultures where multi-generational housing is the norm?

According to a recent article in Trulia Trends, the number of seniors (those over age 65) living with their adult children or other relatives has grown over the last few decades.

Trulia cited Census data and a survey from the Current Population Survey’s American and Social Economic Supplement (ASEC); the 2012 Census showed 9 percent of seniors living with children or relatives, while the ASEC determined that the average for this age group living with their parents has grown from 6.6 percent to 7.3 percent over the last 20 years.

The biggest explanation for the shift, said Trulia, is the increase in foreign-born seniors. 25 percent of foreign-born seniors live with relatives, compared to just 6 percent of US-born seniors. The percentage varies depending on the country of origin. For example, 47 percent of Indian seniors live with relatives, and 44 percent of Vietnamese seniors. Other origin countries breaking the 30 percent mark include Haiti, Mexico and China.

When looking at US-born seniors, a significant ethnic and racial breakdown emerged. “African-American, Asian-American, and Hispanic seniors are all at least twice as likely as whites to live with relatives,” noted Trulia.

If the trend continues, perhaps more and more of DC’s “in-law suites” will actually live up to their name.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/more_seniors_living_with_relatives_these_days/7840.