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Tahera Kahlil and her husband Sabbar live independently in a condo at the Villages, a senior living facility in Evergreen, less than 3 miles from their daughter Nishrin. In immigrant families like the Khalils, the cultural norm is to age in place in a multigenerational setting. Tahera is Sabbar’s primary caregiver. She relies on help from her extended family. Nishrin, her husband Khaled Hasnat, and Tahera’s son Nazir form an extended family circle that helps care for Sabbar.
In immigrant families caring for aging parents is an ingrained cultural value of duty and honor. The cultural norm among South Asian families is to age in place in a multigenerational setting. In the Khalil household, strong emotional and cultural ties to India also shape religion, food, and family relationships. Nishrin shares a close bond with her mother, “her rock and best friend!”
The Kahlil family mirrors a trend across the nation reported by AARP, where 1 in 5 Americans provide intergenerational caregiving for aging parents.
This article was published as part of a series – the Desi Golden Years Project – on aging in the South Asian Community, made possible with funding from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation (SVCF). The views expressed on this website and other materials produced by India Currents do not necessarily reflect the official policies of SVCF.
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