Justin Murphy (right) and his father.
Courtesy of Justin Murphy
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Justin Murphy, 35, the co-owner of real estate brokerage Multi Gen Living Group. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.In 2022, my wife, Nicki, and I were living in Babcock Ranch, just outside of Fort Myers, Florida, with our daughters. At the time, my parents lived right down the road from us.My dad had just entered his 80s and was still pretty capable, but over time, he started needing more help with things like heavy lifting or changing the AC filters. He couldn't get up on the ladder anymore, so I was over there at least every couple of days.My wife and I had plans to move to Orlando. We were looking for a little more excitement, culture, and diversity. But the idea of being three hours away from my parents gave me anxiety, so I talked to my wife about them moving in with us.Every family situation is unique, and not every spouse would be comfortable living with their in-laws. Luckily, my wife and I had a good relationship with my parents, so she was on board. We sat down with them one day and said, "Why don't we all live under one roof?"In 2023, we all moved to Orlando. When we decided to live together, it was preemptive; there weren't any major health issues that required it; it was more about comfort and proximity. But around the time we moved in, my dad's health really started to decline.Living with family made my dad's final months more comfortableI would almost describe our Orlando home as an asymmetrical duplex. The first floor had an in-law suite with a bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, living space, private entrance, and washer and dryer. The rest of the first floor had the main living room and kitchen.
