Cini, 52, laughs today when she talks about hatching this idea.
It was a social experiment, she says.
It wasn’t easy.
But there were a lot of things that I felt would work.
Although it’s more common to bring together three generations instead of four, Cini definitely isn’t alone.
Since thepandemicbegan, many families have had grandparents move in and adult children move home.
Others cohabited so grandparents could help with younger children as adults worked from home.
It can be a great experience.
But without a properly designed or adapted space, families can feel crowded and older adults can risk injuries.
“People get really stressed out because they’ve been trying to create this perfect life.
I think we need to redefine perfect.
Perfect is going to look different.
To make multigenerational living spaces safer and more comfortable for everyone, consider these ideas:
1.
Cini recommends adding a heat lamp for older relatives, who may feel cold getting out of the shower.
(In the winter, the whole family will appreciate it.)
Though this may require renovations, you’ll want to address it before it becomes urgent, Call says.
Even better, hire a plumber to extend it and embed it in the wall behind the sink.
One new way to do this is adding motorized countertops and cabinets, as Cini did.
And that’s getting a little tough and a little dangerous, she says.
And I’ve got countertops that can go higher or lower in my kitchen.
We’re motorizing them so that they’re accessible for anyone at any time, Call says.
Maybe you want to raise that stovetop so that’s out of reach of kids hands.
Or with wheelchairs, it’s crucial that you lower it to 30 inches.
It creates customization for every person living in that home.
Another design choice for the kitchen: Add a family communication center to keep everyone in the loop.
