Multigenerational living is no longer a backup plan. It is a housing strategy. Have you ever considered living with more than one generation under the same roof, and wondered, would this solve a problem for you?
For many seniors living on their own in Southern California, the question is not just about housing, it is about support, safety, and what life looks like a few years from now. For families facing high rent, limited inventory, and rising monthly costs, multigenerational living can also be a practical way to combine incomes and reduce duplicated living expenses, while staying connected.
This approach offers an alternative to several common worries, like Mom maintaining a home alone as needs change, adult children struggling with rent, or families trying to manage caregiving from a distance. When it is planned thoughtfully, multigenerational living can create stability, improve caregiving support, and open up new senior housing options that feel realistic in today’s Southern California market.
Multigenerational living typically means two or more adult generations living together in one property. That may include grandparents, parents, adult children, and sometimes grandchildren. The key is that it is intentional, with defined spaces, shared responsibilities, and a plan for how the household functions financially and emotionally.
One statistic that stands out: National research shows multigenerational households rose to about 18 percent of Americans in 2021, representing nearly 60 million people, compared with about 7 percent in the early 1970s.
In high cost regions like Los Angeles County, this trend is not surprising. Senior homeowners and their families are looking at affordability, caregiving needs, and quality of life and deciding that living together can be a smart strategy, not a last resort.
This is not one generation’s solution, it is a shared one. Gen X often leads the search because many are supporting aging parents while still helping children. Baby Boomers often want proximity and support, and some are selling long held homes and contributing equity toward a shared property. Millennials and Gen Z adults are navigating high rents and limited inventory, and living together can reduce housing costs while giving younger adults time to stabilize savings, pay down debt, or plan for future homeownership.
Here in the foothill communities and nearby cities, I see this conversation happening more and more in La Crescenta, La Canada Flintridge, Glendale, Pasadena, Altadena, Lake View Terrace, Sunland, Tujunga, and Montrose. Families are not just looking for a house, they are looking for a layout that supports privacy and dignity, while still making shared living practical.
Because Southern California housing prices are high and land is limited, families are getting creative about the types of properties that can work. The most common features and layouts I see families seek include a single family home with a permitted ADU or clear space to add one, homes with an existing guest house or in law suite, duplexes or flexible floor plans that allow separation, properties with separate entrances and dedicated parking, and larger lots in areas like Shadow Hills or Lake View Terrace where future flexibility may be possible.
In many of our older neighborhoods, the housing stock can actually be a benefit. Over time, additions and varied floor plans can create natural separation that supports multigenerational living far better than a one size fits all layout.
This is also where multigenerational living becomes a real financial strategy. Families often combine sale proceeds from an older generation’s home, multiple income streams across generations, and shared monthly expenses like utilities and maintenance. When expectations are clear, this arrangement can reduce the financial pressure that comes with paying for multiple households and it can help seniors simplify life, reduce maintenance responsibilities, and stay connected without feeling isolated.
As Robbyn Battles, Vice President of Senior Homes and Trust Sales, I deal with these conversations often, and the families who feel the most confident are the ones who treat this like planning, not guessing. The best outcomes usually come from an early conversation about goals, budget, privacy needs, caregiving expectations, and what happens if health changes.
If multigenerational living is being considered because a senior parent needs more support, you do not have to figure it out alone. Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles offer caregiver resources that can help families understand options, reduce burnout, and locate services designed to help seniors remain safely at home.
Local planning tip: When you call these agencies, ask specifically about caregiver support, respite options, and programs that help seniors stay safely at home, because those services can change the plan a family thought they needed.
The Los Angeles County Aging and Disabilities Department can help you navigate information and referrals to programs that support older adults and family caregivers, including connections to local services, care planning pathways, and benefits guidance. The Los Angeles County Family Caregiver Support Program is designed to support unpaid family caregivers and often includes caregiver education, support, and respite options. Respite care is short term relief for caregivers and may be provided in a way that fits the household’s needs and the older adult’s situation.
The City of Los Angeles Department of Aging provides caregiver support resources and a way to request guidance, including connections to caregiver assistance programs and referrals based on the senior’s needs and the family’s caregiving situation.
Families also ask about funds or financial assistance that may help caregivers keep seniors at home. In many cases there are programs that focus on respite support, caregiver training, and services that reduce caregiver burden, and eligibility can depend on the care situation and the program rules. If this is part of your family’s decision, it is worth asking directly about caregiver support services and any related assistance when you contact local aging agencies.
If this piqued your curiosity, here is a simple way to explore what multigenerational housing looks like today. Below are a few local search links you can use to get a feel for pricing, styles, and layouts that may support multigenerational living and senior housing needs. Look specifically for guest houses, ADUs, flexible floor plans, separate entrances, and parking.
- La Crescenta and Montrose 1 Story Homes
- Glendale 1 Story Homes For Sale
- Lake View Terrace 1 Story Homes
When you are ready, you can add your three specific property links right here, along with a short note about why each one may work for multigenerational living, senior housing needs, privacy, and long term flexibility.
Multigenerational living is not about giving something up. For many Southern California families, it is about gaining stability, connection, and options. With the right property and the right planning, it can be a practical solution to real challenges, especially for seniors who want support without losing independence.
Thinking about selling a senior owned home and starting the multigenerational conversation? I am Robbyn Battles, Vice President of Senior Homes and Trust Sales. Many seniors and families do not need pressure, they need clarity. The best next step is often a simple conversation about your options, timing, and what living arrangements might actually feel like in day to day life.
If it helps, we can schedule a meeting with family members present so everyone hears the same information and we can talk through the sale of your current home, possible replacement housing, and how a multigenerational plan could fit your goals and budget in La Crescenta, La Canada Flintridge, Glendale, Pasadena, Altadena, Lake View Terrace, and nearby communities.
Sources and backlinks for reference
- Business Insider, multigenerational housing trends
- AARP, multigenerational living guidance
- Pew Research Center, multigenerational household statistics
- National Association of Realtors, multigenerational buyer trends
- Los Angeles County Aging and Disabilities Department
- Los Angeles County Family Caregiver Support Program
- City of Los Angeles Department of Aging, caregiver resources
- California Department of Aging, family caregiver services
- The House Agent website
- Robbyn Battles Google Business page
- Robbyn Battles Zillow profile
multigenerational living Southern California, senior housing Los Angeles County, senior housing options La Crescenta, senior living La Canada Flintridge, senior housing Glendale, senior housing Pasadena, senior housing Altadena, senior housing Lake View Terrace, multigenerational homes La Crescenta, ADU homes La Crescenta, guest house homes Montrose, in law suite homes Glendale, duplex for multigenerational living Glendale, caregiving resources Los Angeles, LA County Family Caregiver Support Program, City of Los Angeles Department of Aging caregiver resources, sell a senior owned home, senior home sale planning, trust sale real estate Southern California, Robbyn Battles listing agent, Robbyn Battles Vice President of Senior Homes and Trust Sales, La Crescenta seniors