BRITAIN. Number of Three Generation Households On the Rise

LONDON, November 14, 2005: Households accommodating three generations are on the increase as elderly people struggle to make ends meet on their own‚ showed a recent research. More than 850‚000 adults now have one or both of their parents living with them. People aged between 35 and 44 are most likely to have their parents living with them. The research found that as the age of the homeowner rises‚ the number of people who have elderly parents living with them falls. Financially it makes sense for them to go back to live with their adult children who may able to help them just as they were supported by their parents while they were growing up. Three generations under the same roof ? It seems that households of that kind are on the increase‚ a recent research showed. More than 850‚000 adults now have one or both of their parents living with them – in 4% of all households with an adult aged between 34 and 64‚ according to retirement housing specialist Economic Lifestyles. The group blamed the trend on rising council tax and heating bills‚ which on top of the cost of maintaining a home is making it more expensive for elderly people to live on their own. It added that the failing health of many older people also meant it was easier for them to live with their children. People aged between 35 and 44 are most likely to have their parents living with them.The research found that as the age of the homeowner rises‚ the number of people who have elderly parents living with them falls. But despite this‚ there were around 148‚000 people aged between 55 and 64 who still had one or both parents living with them. Mark Neal‚ managing director of Economic Lifestyle‚ said: "Retired people struggle by on average incomes of around £11‚000 and many are even still paying off mortgages. Around one in five pensioners lives below the poverty line. Financially it makes sense for them to go back to live with their adult children who may be reasonably well–off and able to help them just as they were supported by their parents while they were growing up." People in the North and London are most likely to have their parents living with them‚ at 8% and 7% of households respectively. At the other end of the scale‚ just 2% of households in the West Midlands and 3% in the South West have three generations under the same roof. www.ageconcern.org.uk