Across Calgary and beyond, more families are choosing to live together under one roof. Whether it’s grandparents, parents, children, or other extended family members, multigenerational households are growing in number and in strength.
Why Are More Families Sharing a Home?
Several factors are influencing this shift. The rising cost of living, a competitive housing market, and limited access to affordable childcare are just a few reasons families are blending households.
“Housing isn’t as accessible, so people benefit from merging households,” explains Jamie Reboul, Carya’s Manager of Community Partnerships and Multigenerational Wellness. “You see families raising children while also supporting aging parents, all in the same home.”
With many parents working full-time, childcare can be a significant financial strain. Turning to trusted family members for help not only reduces costs but also builds connection.
“Families often prefer to have a trusted family member caring for their children,” says Reboul. “As a result, you see people’s parents moving in with them.”
Statistics Canada reports that multigenerational households in Canada increased by 45% between 2001 and 2021, with nearly 1 million homes including multiple generations or extended family members.[1] Calgary saw one of the fastest increases in households with adult children living at home between 2016 and 2021.
For Many, It’s a Cultural Norm
For some families, living together isn’t new, it’s simply how they’ve always done things.
“Multigenerational living is the norm in collectivist cultures,” says Dr. Rose Joudi, Carya’s project manager for The Way In Network. These cultures foster belonging, shared responsibility, and cooperation, and value community over individuality.
Communities from Southeast Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and other regions have long embraced intergenerational living. According to the 2021 Canadian Census and the 2022 Canadian Housing Survey, South Asian, Filipino, and Southeast Asian populations are more likely to live in multigenerational households.[2]
Dr. Joudi adds that after the COVID-19 pandemic, the lifestyle is getting adopted by more people in individualist cultures. “Those who are outside of those cultures in which this isn’t a norm, actually started to realize the benefit of multigenerational households,” said Joudi.
The Benefits of Living Under One Roof
While reducing financial strain is a key benefit, families often experience unexpected positives from sharing space across generations:
- A stronger sense of community at home. Shared meals, everyday conversations, and being together more often can build a greater sense of belonging.
- Built-in support with caregiving. Parents of young children benefit from the experience, mentorship, and support of older family members.
- Tradition and wisdom are passed down. Grandparents can pass on cultural knowledge, family stories, and traditions, naturally, through everyday interactions.
- Shared responsibility. Tasks like cooking, cleaning, and childcare can be more manageable when divided among family members.
- Older adults feel more connected. Living with family can reduce social isolation and provide a meaningful role in the household.
Navigating Challenges Together
Like all living arrangements, multigenerational households come with unique challenges. Differing parenting styles, household expectations, and generational values may lead to tension if not addressed with open communication and empathy.
“There is some independence that people crave,” says Reboul. “You might want to start your own traditions or raise your children differently than your parents did. As the world changes, we learn new things, and that can shift parenting values. If a grandparent doesn’t agree with those approaches, it can create conflict.”
As people age, their needs can become more complex. Add young children into the mix, and the emotional load on families can grow.
“Sometimes a busy, noisy household isn’t what an older adult wants or needs, especially if the move wasn’t by choice,” adds Reboul. “When families come together out of necessity rather than intention, it can lead to feelings of resentment and loss of dignity and pride.”
Understanding why a multigenerational household was formed, whether by choice or due to emergency, can be a big factor in how it works.
“If an adult child moves back in because of job loss or other hardship, it can create stress or resentment if those dynamics aren’t openly acknowledged,” says Dr. Joudi.
Another challenge is space itself. Canadian homes aren’t always designed to fit large, blended households. “Our homes aren’t built to accommodate those living situations,” says Joudi.
Helping Families Navigate Life’s Challenges
Multigenerational living can be both rewarding and challenging, but no one needs to navigate it alone. Carya offers programs that support individuals and families of all ages in building strong, healthy relationships and thriving together.
Here are just a few of our programs that can help support multigenerational households:
- Adoption Kinship Counselling – Supporting children and families in various stages of the legal permanency process by building secure attachments and helping prevent placement breakdowns.
- Parenting Programs – Like Parent-Child Mother Goose® or Circle of Security can strengthen relationships across generations.
- Family Counselling & Functional Family Therapy – Helping families communicate, navigate challenges, and maintain cohesion.
- Elder Abuse Response and Prevention Support– Protecting older adults, often within extended family structures.
- Drop-in Groups at Bowmont and Village Commons – Providing spaces where parents, children, and older adults connect, share skills, and build community bonds. It can also be a place to go when you need room or space from your family.
- Parent Chat – Share the joys and challenges of parenting with others who are experiencing the same thing, not just those in your family.
- Healthy Relationship Workshop Series – By learning how stress impacts relationships and how to manage it constructively, participants can reduce conflicts and strengthen bonds within their household.
- Relationships With Your Adult Children – By reducing conflict and improving understanding, this learning can help multi-generational households remain supportive, stable, and nurturing environments for all ages.
Building Strong Families, Together
Multigenerational living reflects the resilience and adaptability of today’s families. While each household is unique, the opportunity to learn from one another, share responsibilities, and grow together is something to celebrate.
At Carya, we walk alongside families navigating these journeys. Whether you’re supporting an aging parent, raising young children, or doing both, you’re not alone.
Carya is here, offering support, connection, and growth for all generations.
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