A major social trend in many countries has been for elderly people to live increasingly by themselves rather than with their children. Often they have pride in remaining independent and don't want to feel a burden on their families. However, there would be considerable advantages for society if more elderly people lived with their adult children rather than alone or in nursing homes. Clearly this will not work in every case, but reasons include mutual benefit for all members of the family, and the fact that this can help society cope with the massive demographic changes predicted for the future. All generations gain benefit from living in extended families. Most grandparents and great�grandparents enjoy spending time with their grandchildren. It is common to hear them say that having children around makes them feel younger. In addition, for parents, it is cheaper when children are looked after by their older relatives than in child care centres. Benefits for the children are numerous, and clearly what is good for them is good for the whole family. Family care is likely to be of higher quality than at a child care centre for many reasons. It will be better attuned to the children's needs because the family members know them better and because there are fewer children to look after in a family home than in a child care centre. Further, families generally have greater emotional involvement in the child's development than people looking after the child as a job. It's also an advantage that this kind of care can strengthen family bonds due to the increased contact that family members have with each other. The experience that grandparents and great-grandparents bring to child-rearing, from the years of raising their own children, is an additional reason. However, it must be remembered that care centres have staff with professional training which family members rarely get the opportunity to gain, and they also provide opportunities for social interaction with other children beyond those available in th