All together now! There’s a new lifestyle trend and France offers the ideal affordable opportunity, says Clare Rolt
Following the isolation felt by so many people during the Covid lockdowns where extended families weren’t allowed to see each other, there followed a huge wave of clients looking to buy properties that offered the chance of multigenerational living. The opportunity for grandparents, parents and children to live together and make up for lost family time from Covid proved extremely tempting for both French and international clients alike.
Since then, rising living costs and interest rates have seen this trend continue. With many families unable to afford the properties they want by themselves, spreading the cost between two parties has proved to be very popular.
Multigenerational living has been a large part of French culture for a long time, with many French families prioritising close family ties and support. Thankfully, a large number of French properties offer this possibility, whether it be via existing independent living accommodation, the potential to create extra space in barns and outbuildings or simply just because, in general, a lot of French houses tend to have a larger living area than their UK counterparts.
Living in France as an extended family can be a great way to offer both emotional and social support. Being together for a morning coffee or evening apéritif, cooking traditional food together or just going out for a walk in the beautiful French countryside – all of this helps people to feel less isolated and cared for. This is especially important as, even now Covid is behind us, government statistics in 2023 show that one in three adults aged 50-80 years old continues to feel isolated from others.
FORGING FAMILY BONDS
For grandparents and grandchildren living together, there are benefits on all sides. Having grandparents on hand to help with the children can be a godsend, helping busy parents and reducing the need for formal childcare. Children benefit from learning values and traditions from their grandparents while parents benefit from having more time and lower childcare costs.
In France, it is very common for grandparents to take care of grandchildren, especially during the long eight-week summer holidays. There is certainly no shortage of activities to do together, be it visiting local festivals or attractions, spending a day at the beach or by the river or simply being together outside swimming or playing.
Spending precious time with grandchildren has also shown to offer several health benefits to grandparents. According to Dr Hussaini of Henry Ford Health, time with grandchildren can reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and depression, and improve physical fitness and brain health. It’s just important
