agefamily

Agefamily is a term used in sociology and demography to describe households in which multiple generations live under one roof and share caregiving responsibilities. The concept emphasizes the role of age composition in shaping social support networks, economic exchange, and daily household functioning.

The term blends “age” and “family” and appears in studies of intergenerational living arrangements, aging in place, and family caregiving. It is often used to analyze how cultural norms, housing markets, and public policies influence the prevalence of age-diverse households.

Common patterns include care for aging relatives, child care by older or younger family members, and mutual aid in tasks such as cooking, transportation, and finances. Agefamily households may reduce reliance on formal care systems but can place burdens on middle-generation earners.

Policy implications include housing design, tax and welfare policies, and flexible work arrangements to support intergenerational living. Critics note definitional ambiguities and cultural biases, and call for standardized measures to compare agefamily structures across contexts.

See also: multigenerational households; aging in place; intergenerational living; sandwich generation.