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More Aussies are choosing end-of-life care for their pets, would you?
More Aussies are choosing end-of-life care for their pets, would you?

The Advertiser

time7 hours ago

  • Health
  • The Advertiser

More Aussies are choosing end-of-life care for their pets, would you?

For Vicki, 65, and Dennis Cleghorn, 69, their beloved greyhounds Finn and Roy were their children and their "world", so when they became ill they wanted to make sure they had everything they needed - and they're not alone. Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, and according to the RSPCA's 2023 data, there are around 28.7 million animals in Australian homes - that's 69 per cent of national households with a pet. And more parents of fur babies are now paying extra money for services, such as in-home palliative care and euthanasia so their much loved family member has a comfortable end-of-life experience. Read more from The Senior: When the Victorian couple's dogs weren't doing well when they travelled overseas in 2023, they were heartbroken and rallied family, a dog sitter and Rest Your Paws veterinarian Laura McGuffog to keep the dogs company and monitor their health. But by the time they got back, their beloved dog Finn had taken a turn for the worse and they were thankful to be back for her darkest days. Mrs Cleghorn said when Finn's time had come, having an in-home service felt less "clinical" and it also saved her beloved pooch from having the additional stress of being moved from her bed to go to a vet's clinic. Instead, the family gathered and said their goodbyes in a more personal way. "We all sat on the loungeroom floor with Finney in her bed and spoke to her," she said. The Cleghorn's were especially touched when Dr McGuffog arrived with McDonald's chicken nuggets - Finns favourite - as a farewell gift that both Roy and Finn ate together. "There was no rush. She [Dr McGuffog] took her time," Ms Cleghorn said. "And then finally she said, 'we'll say goodbye now'." Mrs Cleghorn said after their emotional farewells were said "as she went off to sleep", a "little stretcher" was brought into the home, with the male family members helping lift Finn onto it and out to a vehicle. Through tears, Mrs Cleghorn recalled how "amazed" she was Finn would be taken to her final resting place amongst pillows and flowers that adorned the car. Mrs Cleghorn said saying goodbye in their home to their "daughter" helped with closure and made them feel like they did everything they could do to make her comfortable. Sadly, it was only a few months later when they had to rally the troops again to help with their former racing dog, Roy, who unexpectantly experienced more serious seizures when the couple were away. Heartbreakingly, they couldn't get back in time, so Dr McGuffog again came to the house - with nuggets and a "soft-serve from McDonald's" - and the devastated couple watched on their cameras, with Roy able to hear their voices saying goodbye. "Laura did it with such tenderness and respect for the animal and us as owners," Vicki said. The pair always told Roy they would give him the "best" life and with the home service, the couple feel like they kept their promise. But palliative care isn't just about fulfilling a need to make animals as comfortable as possible in their final days - it is also helping people with low-mobility or illness to be able to say their final goodbyes. "I personally have had clients who are bedridden, and they've been able to say goodbye to their pet on their bed, in their lap, in their arms, and still have that connection," Dr McGuffog told The Senior. Dr McGuffog has noticed a difference with pet owners who choose the in-home service. "People look up at you afterwards and say, 'that was just so peaceful'," she said. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. For Vicki, 65, and Dennis Cleghorn, 69, their beloved greyhounds Finn and Roy were their children and their "world", so when they became ill they wanted to make sure they had everything they needed - and they're not alone. Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, and according to the RSPCA's 2023 data, there are around 28.7 million animals in Australian homes - that's 69 per cent of national households with a pet. And more parents of fur babies are now paying extra money for services, such as in-home palliative care and euthanasia so their much loved family member has a comfortable end-of-life experience. Read more from The Senior: When the Victorian couple's dogs weren't doing well when they travelled overseas in 2023, they were heartbroken and rallied family, a dog sitter and Rest Your Paws veterinarian Laura McGuffog to keep the dogs company and monitor their health. But by the time they got back, their beloved dog Finn had taken a turn for the worse and they were thankful to be back for her darkest days. Mrs Cleghorn said when Finn's time had come, having an in-home service felt less "clinical" and it also saved her beloved pooch from having the additional stress of being moved from her bed to go to a vet's clinic. Instead, the family gathered and said their goodbyes in a more personal way. "We all sat on the loungeroom floor with Finney in her bed and spoke to her," she said. The Cleghorn's were especially touched when Dr McGuffog arrived with McDonald's chicken nuggets - Finns favourite - as a farewell gift that both Roy and Finn ate together. "There was no rush. She [Dr McGuffog] took her time," Ms Cleghorn said. "And then finally she said, 'we'll say goodbye now'." Mrs Cleghorn said after their emotional farewells were said "as she went off to sleep", a "little stretcher" was brought into the home, with the male family members helping lift Finn onto it and out to a vehicle. Through tears, Mrs Cleghorn recalled how "amazed" she was Finn would be taken to her final resting place amongst pillows and flowers that adorned the car. Mrs Cleghorn said saying goodbye in their home to their "daughter" helped with closure and made them feel like they did everything they could do to make her comfortable. Sadly, it was only a few months later when they had to rally the troops again to help with their former racing dog, Roy, who unexpectantly experienced more serious seizures when the couple were away. Heartbreakingly, they couldn't get back in time, so Dr McGuffog again came to the house - with nuggets and a "soft-serve from McDonald's" - and the devastated couple watched on their cameras, with Roy able to hear their voices saying goodbye. "Laura did it with such tenderness and respect for the animal and us as owners," Vicki said. The pair always told Roy they would give him the "best" life and with the home service, the couple feel like they kept their promise. But palliative care isn't just about fulfilling a need to make animals as comfortable as possible in their final days - it is also helping people with low-mobility or illness to be able to say their final goodbyes. "I personally have had clients who are bedridden, and they've been able to say goodbye to their pet on their bed, in their lap, in their arms, and still have that connection," Dr McGuffog told The Senior. Dr McGuffog has noticed a difference with pet owners who choose the in-home service. "People look up at you afterwards and say, 'that was just so peaceful'," she said. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. For Vicki, 65, and Dennis Cleghorn, 69, their beloved greyhounds Finn and Roy were their children and their "world", so when they became ill they wanted to make sure they had everything they needed - and they're not alone. Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, and according to the RSPCA's 2023 data, there are around 28.7 million animals in Australian homes - that's 69 per cent of national households with a pet. And more parents of fur babies are now paying extra money for services, such as in-home palliative care and euthanasia so their much loved family member has a comfortable end-of-life experience. Read more from The Senior: When the Victorian couple's dogs weren't doing well when they travelled overseas in 2023, they were heartbroken and rallied family, a dog sitter and Rest Your Paws veterinarian Laura McGuffog to keep the dogs company and monitor their health. But by the time they got back, their beloved dog Finn had taken a turn for the worse and they were thankful to be back for her darkest days. Mrs Cleghorn said when Finn's time had come, having an in-home service felt less "clinical" and it also saved her beloved pooch from having the additional stress of being moved from her bed to go to a vet's clinic. Instead, the family gathered and said their goodbyes in a more personal way. "We all sat on the loungeroom floor with Finney in her bed and spoke to her," she said. The Cleghorn's were especially touched when Dr McGuffog arrived with McDonald's chicken nuggets - Finns favourite - as a farewell gift that both Roy and Finn ate together. "There was no rush. She [Dr McGuffog] took her time," Ms Cleghorn said. "And then finally she said, 'we'll say goodbye now'." Mrs Cleghorn said after their emotional farewells were said "as she went off to sleep", a "little stretcher" was brought into the home, with the male family members helping lift Finn onto it and out to a vehicle. Through tears, Mrs Cleghorn recalled how "amazed" she was Finn would be taken to her final resting place amongst pillows and flowers that adorned the car. Mrs Cleghorn said saying goodbye in their home to their "daughter" helped with closure and made them feel like they did everything they could do to make her comfortable. Sadly, it was only a few months later when they had to rally the troops again to help with their former racing dog, Roy, who unexpectantly experienced more serious seizures when the couple were away. Heartbreakingly, they couldn't get back in time, so Dr McGuffog again came to the house - with nuggets and a "soft-serve from McDonald's" - and the devastated couple watched on their cameras, with Roy able to hear their voices saying goodbye. "Laura did it with such tenderness and respect for the animal and us as owners," Vicki said. The pair always told Roy they would give him the "best" life and with the home service, the couple feel like they kept their promise. But palliative care isn't just about fulfilling a need to make animals as comfortable as possible in their final days - it is also helping people with low-mobility or illness to be able to say their final goodbyes. "I personally have had clients who are bedridden, and they've been able to say goodbye to their pet on their bed, in their lap, in their arms, and still have that connection," Dr McGuffog told The Senior. Dr McGuffog has noticed a difference with pet owners who choose the in-home service. "People look up at you afterwards and say, 'that was just so peaceful'," she said. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE. For Vicki, 65, and Dennis Cleghorn, 69, their beloved greyhounds Finn and Roy were their children and their "world", so when they became ill they wanted to make sure they had everything they needed - and they're not alone. Australia has one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, and according to the RSPCA's 2023 data, there are around 28.7 million animals in Australian homes - that's 69 per cent of national households with a pet. And more parents of fur babies are now paying extra money for services, such as in-home palliative care and euthanasia so their much loved family member has a comfortable end-of-life experience. Read more from The Senior: When the Victorian couple's dogs weren't doing well when they travelled overseas in 2023, they were heartbroken and rallied family, a dog sitter and Rest Your Paws veterinarian Laura McGuffog to keep the dogs company and monitor their health. But by the time they got back, their beloved dog Finn had taken a turn for the worse and they were thankful to be back for her darkest days. Mrs Cleghorn said when Finn's time had come, having an in-home service felt less "clinical" and it also saved her beloved pooch from having the additional stress of being moved from her bed to go to a vet's clinic. Instead, the family gathered and said their goodbyes in a more personal way. "We all sat on the loungeroom floor with Finney in her bed and spoke to her," she said. The Cleghorn's were especially touched when Dr McGuffog arrived with McDonald's chicken nuggets - Finns favourite - as a farewell gift that both Roy and Finn ate together. "There was no rush. She [Dr McGuffog] took her time," Ms Cleghorn said. "And then finally she said, 'we'll say goodbye now'." Mrs Cleghorn said after their emotional farewells were said "as she went off to sleep", a "little stretcher" was brought into the home, with the male family members helping lift Finn onto it and out to a vehicle. Through tears, Mrs Cleghorn recalled how "amazed" she was Finn would be taken to her final resting place amongst pillows and flowers that adorned the car. Mrs Cleghorn said saying goodbye in their home to their "daughter" helped with closure and made them feel like they did everything they could do to make her comfortable. Sadly, it was only a few months later when they had to rally the troops again to help with their former racing dog, Roy, who unexpectantly experienced more serious seizures when the couple were away. Heartbreakingly, they couldn't get back in time, so Dr McGuffog again came to the house - with nuggets and a "soft-serve from McDonald's" - and the devastated couple watched on their cameras, with Roy able to hear their voices saying goodbye. "Laura did it with such tenderness and respect for the animal and us as owners," Vicki said. The pair always told Roy they would give him the "best" life and with the home service, the couple feel like they kept their promise. But palliative care isn't just about fulfilling a need to make animals as comfortable as possible in their final days - it is also helping people with low-mobility or illness to be able to say their final goodbyes. "I personally have had clients who are bedridden, and they've been able to say goodbye to their pet on their bed, in their lap, in their arms, and still have that connection," Dr McGuffog told The Senior. Dr McGuffog has noticed a difference with pet owners who choose the in-home service. "People look up at you afterwards and say, 'that was just so peaceful'," she said. Share your thoughts in the comments below, or send a Letter to the Editor by CLICKING HERE.

Goose droppings plague Finland's short and precious summers
Goose droppings plague Finland's short and precious summers

Boston Globe

time18 hours ago

  • General
  • Boston Globe

Goose droppings plague Finland's short and precious summers

Now, after Sisyphean summers facing down the fowl's feces, he thinks that he just may have found a solution: a wheeled cage with a strong resemblance to an old-fashioned hand lawn mower that is meant to sift the dirtied sand and whisk up only the offending feces. The contraption may be Helsinki's most innovative poop-fighting effort yet. It is being tested this summer on about half the city's 25 public beaches. It was designed in-house by beach staff members, who drew inspiration from a public competition last year meant to crowdsource poop-scooping ideas. Advertisement Finns are hardly alone in their fight against goose droppings, which can carry dangerous germs like E. coli and Salmonella. In other places, officials fight the problem at its source: the birds themselves. In recent years, Canadians have tried to relocate the geese, New Yorkers hired a patrol dog, and Californians moved to cull them. Advertisement But Finland does not allow culling, and hunting geese in urban Helsinki would not be a feasible option anyway. The Finns are desperate for solutions because their summers are precious. They live so far north, two months are about all they get. However brief, the summers they do get can sometimes be unpredictably hot, with this past Sunday marking the 16th consecutive day that temperatures exceeded 30 degrees Celsius, or 86 degrees Fahrenheit, somewhere in Finland — a record. So on a recent afternoon — a warm day in a city where anything over 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 Celsius) is considered hot — Pauli Puirava biked with his wife and two children to Hietsu Beach, whose formal name is Hietaranta. They brought some nuts and a few juice boxes for their children, five and eight. 'The summer is so short,' said Puirava, an entrepreneur, pharmacist, and restaurateur. 'We really have to make the most out of it.' Helsinki's humans are not the only ones who gravitate to the beach in summer. Last July, according to the Finnish Environment Institute, researchers counted about 5,300 geese in the Helsinki area. The plump birds are everywhere. They jaywalk across bike paths, swagger through crosswalks barefoot like the Beatles, preen in the parks, and sometimes strut between office buildings and cultural landmarks in the city center. In parks, the problem can be even worse, with the droppings matting the grass and squishing into the treads of shoes. At the beach, sunbathers must check the sand before they lay down their blankets. Beach volleyball players hope that a dive does not bring them face-to-face with the feces. And parents, like Puirava, keep a watchful eye out so their young children do not end up putting the droppings in their mouths. Advertisement 'You have to watch your every step,' he said. 'Wherever you go outdoors in Helsinki, there is nowhere without goose poop.' To keep up with the cleaning demands, the ranks of summer maintenance workers have grown in the past decade, Lundgren said. Some beaches can see well over 40 pounds of excrement a day, he said. His team keeps looking for new solutions. They once tried to mix the poop into the sand, which just dirtied the water, he said. They tried to scare the geese by broadcasting the sounds of sea eagles, but the geese quickly got wise to it. He even considered hiring gig workers, in this case, skilled patrol dogs, as have other Finnish cities. But, he said, the few eligible dogs would have been too expensive. 'And,' he lamented, 'they would have been able to get there only a couple of times per week.' The latest hope was the new wheeled contraption that the summer maintenance crew at Hietsu Beach rolled out to use, said crew leader Minni Aakko. But they soon found it was heavy, she said, dragging on wet sand. Now, the machine that was supposed to be the solution mostly sits in the storage room. So Aakko has returned to the old-fashioned method: scooping up goose poop with a spade and rubbery gloves. She finds the work almost meditative, she said. But the smell — grassy, a little mildewy, and undeniably fecal — can linger. 'It's not bad work,' she said. 'But it's not my favorite job here.' This article originally appeared in Advertisement

I visited European wellness haven with gorgeous nature parks, huge theme park and foraging walk just 3 hours from Dublin
I visited European wellness haven with gorgeous nature parks, huge theme park and foraging walk just 3 hours from Dublin

The Irish Sun

time3 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

I visited European wellness haven with gorgeous nature parks, huge theme park and foraging walk just 3 hours from Dublin

WHAT'S the first thing you think of on mention of a family trip to Finland? Snow and Santa, right? Well forget Santa and snowball fights, this trip was all about saunas, Advertisement 5 Fiona travelled to Helsinki with husband James and daughters Lily, 7, and Rosie, 4 Credit: Collect image through journalist 5 The SkyWheel in central Helsinki Credit: Getty Images - Getty 5 Linnanmäki, which boasts over 40 rides, is Finland's oldest and most popular amusement park Credit: Getty Images - Getty From gorgeous nature parks and sea views to daily saunas and tasty fare, you begin to see why the Finns are so happy. Flying with Finnair operates up to ten flights a week from Dublin to Our journey began with a 9.45am departure from Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL After our three-hour flight, it was to the Scandic Park Helsinki The hotel has a playroom right by the On the first day we met with our guide Karin, and off we trotted to the impressive Helsinki Central Library Oodi, a modern architectural marvel. More than a library, Oodi offers visitors creative resources and a space to engage with the city's diverse urban life. For the girls there were several playgrounds around the library which is also close to the picturesque Töölö Lake. Advertisement MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN Another highlight of the trip was a foraging walk on Seurasaari island. Guided by Anna Nyman - a biologist, forager and herbalist - she showed us a world of wild edible plants and herbs. FINLAND'S OLDEST AMUSEMENT PARK We nibbled on heart's-ease pansies, ground elder, and wood sorrel. Rosie particularly liked the flowers of the blueberry plant. Then, in contrast to the relaxing morning spent being at one with nature, we set off to do something a bit more high-octane. Advertisement Linnanmäki, which boasts over 40 rides, is Finland's oldest and most popular The girls were still too young to go on the park's wilder rides, such as Swingi, which swings visitors from side to side at nearly 100 km/h, or the rollercoaster Taiga - that throws you upside down four times per ride with a top speed of 106 km/h. But we did try some more of the sedate spins and the girls enjoyed being budding truck drivers on Rekkaralli, and spinning around on Propelli. While in Helsinki we also took the ferry across to Suomenlinna, the historic sea fortress and UNESCO World Heritage Site, steeped in maritime history and charm. Advertisement The entire area of Suomenlinna has about 200 buildings spread over 80 hectares of land. The fortress alone has about 6km of walls and over a hundred cannons. WELLNESS TRADITIONS You can enjoy Suomenlinna with just the price of a ferry or water bus ticket, as there is no entrance Capping off our cultural adventure we immersed ourselves in Finnish It was so good we went twice in our five days in Helsinki. The pool is open all year round and is a just a stone's throw from the Market Square. It's a great way to enjoy the Advertisement It has three saunas, two warm water pools and one sea water pool, into which water is pumped from nearby streams and filtered clean. One of the pools is perfect for kids, with tummy-height water levels for them. Floaties and pool noodles are available from the lifeguards. We spent hours there on both visits and had dinner and Saunas really are a must for visitors to Advertisement But the real question is: does everyone walk around nude? The answer is - kinda. Actually, it depends which area you are in. Check the dress code and remember, wearing a towel is always ok. 'EASY TO BE ACTIVE' Just one minute in cold water after the sauna boosts your happy hormones. When you alternate the heat of the sauna with a 30 to 60-second dip in the sea, lake, or a cold shower, your body responds with a rush of feel-good hormones. The girls loved it too! Right across from the pool is the funky restaurant Toppa, on the top floor of the outstanding 'Sugar Cube' building designed by Alvar Aalto. Advertisement Food here is meant to be shared and we feasted on Bo ssam, a fresh and crunchy It's so easy to be active in Helsinki. The city has 34 public Children were warmly welcomed wherever we went and Finnish people are very friendly. It was our second visit to Helsinki. James and I got engaged here 10 years ago, and next time – we won't wait another decade to experience it all again. Advertisement 5 Rocky Cove at the Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress in the south harbour Credit: Getty Images - Getty 5 Suomenlinna became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991 Credit: Getty Images - Getty

Tactical tweaks crucial at Women's Euro 2025, says Uefa technical observer
Tactical tweaks crucial at Women's Euro 2025, says Uefa technical observer

Straits Times

time22-07-2025

  • Sport
  • Straits Times

Tactical tweaks crucial at Women's Euro 2025, says Uefa technical observer

Spain's Aitana Bonmati (in red) in action against Switzerland's Viola Calligaris during their Women's Euro 2025 quarter-final in Bern on July 18. OBERENTFELDEN, Switzerland – Greater tactical flexibility has led to a marked improvement in the ability of teams to change plans mid-game at Euro 2025, former Norway coach Martin Sjogren told Reuters ahead of the semi-finals, which will see Germany take on Spain on July 23. The Swede, who coached the Norwegians at the last Euro and is part of the Uefa group of technical observers scrutinising the games in Switzerland, said many teams had impressed him with how smoothly they changed tack. 'Women's football is developing very quickly, it looks more tactical than what it did in the last championship. There is a trend that there are clear plans for what to do in a given situation,' Sjogren said after landing in Geneva for the July 22 semi-final between England and Italy, which took place after press time. 'If a team needs to close the game to secure the result, then there is a clear plan for what to do, if they need to force a goal, there is a clear plan, so the tactical understanding and the tactical depth in all the teams, you see a clear picture, and that is a development from previous championships.' Sjogren used Switzerland's final group match against Finland, in which the hosts needed a draw and the Finns a win to progress, as an example of the amount of tactical switching that can happen. The Finns took the lead, only for the Swiss to secure a 1-1 draw in second-half stoppage time. 'Finland set up to force a goal and managed to do so, then Switzerland changed, forcing the Finns to switch to try to secure the result, then Switzerland managed to score in one of the last kicks – it's just one example of how things can change in a game,' he said. While impressed by the strategies employed by the Swiss in their quarter-final defeat by Spain, Sjogren said the combination of technical skills and tactical intelligence means the Spaniards, who take on Germany in their semi-final in Zurich, are still the team to beat. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore S'poreans aged 21 to 59 can claim $600 SG60 vouchers from July 22 Singapore Changi Airport's passenger traffic crosses 17.5 million mark in Q2 2025 Singapore 2 charged over alleged involvement in posting of bail for man who subsequently absconded Singapore Teen charged after she allegedly sold vaporisers, put up WhatsApp ad showing e-cigarettes Life Having a workout partner could be the secret to sticking to your fitness goals Singapore 2,500 turtles seized in India and sent back to S'pore, put down humanely after salmonella detected Singapore LTA seeks tailored solutions to improve Bukit Panjang LRT's maintenance inspections Singapore Ports and planes: The 2 Singapore firms helping to keep the world moving 'They (Spain) don't need to play so many other types of football, they are still very secure and good in what they do as a foundation. I still see Spain as the team that looks the most homogeneous, and they are still the best,' he said. Sjogren, who is head coach at Swedish club side Hammarby, and his observer colleagues will meet ahead of the first semi-final to discuss what they have seen, and they will produce a report on the tournament after the July 27 final. 'We'll see what the final report shows, but there's no doubt that women's football will keep developing, definitely,' Sjogren said. REUTERS

European young adults are delaying leaving home due to economic hardships
European young adults are delaying leaving home due to economic hardships

The Star

time18-07-2025

  • General
  • The Star

European young adults are delaying leaving home due to economic hardships

In Europe, young adults are leaving home later and later. But is this due to chronic laziness or economic constraints? Behind the cliches, lie profound social changes. To separate fact from fiction, online psychology platform Unobravo analysed 10 years of official European data and surveyed 1,500 French people about their attitudes to leaving home. The results of this research challenge preconceived ideas and reveal a Europe of varying shapes and sizes, where gaining independence depends as much on tradition as it does on financial resources. The first finding is that the average age for leaving home is 26.6 in Europe. This average masks huge differences between countries. While young Finns leave the family nest at 21.4, their counterparts in Montenegro wait until they are 33.3. That's a 12-year gap between Northern and Southern Europe. With an average age of 23.5, France is closer to the Nordic countries than to its Mediterranean neighbours. This age has remained stable for 10 years, suggesting that this relative precocity is due to structural factors rather than recent economic fluctuations. Beyond geographical disparities, the study reveals a constant throughout Europe: men consistently stay in the parental home longer than women. In France, this difference is 1.3 years, with men leaving the family home at 24.1 years of age compared to 22.8 years for women. This gap may seem minor, but it reflects the persistence of different social expectations. Women are often pushed towards independence and responsibility at an earlier age, while men benefit from greater family tolerance. Staying in the family home is no longer seen as a personal failure but as a pragmatic choice in a difficult economic climate. Photo: Freepik Money can be a barrier But regardless of gender, the vast majority (59%) of French people surveyed believe that it has become more difficult than before to spread one's wings. This is due to the surge in housing costs. Between 2015 and 2023, real estate prices jumped 50% in the European Union, according to Statista. This is enough to dampen even the most ardent desire for independence. This economic reality explains the contrasting performances of European countries. Finland, where property prices have risen by just 5.4%, can afford to see its young people leave home earlier. It's logical that Spain, with 10.4% unemployment and a 47.7% increase in property prices, is seeing its young people stay in the family home for longer. These economic difficulties are not only prolonging the time young people spend living with their parents. They are also causing unexpected returns to the family home. In France, one in five young people move back in with their parents after having tasted independence. For more than half of them, the reasons are purely financial. For a third, it is loneliness or stress that drives them back to the security of the family home. This phenomenon, amplified by the consequences of the pandemic, illustrates how fragile residential independence remains in the face of economic and personal uncertainties. Fortunately, this change in behaviour is accompanied by a change in attitudes. More than half of French people (55%) believe that society now accepts adults living with their parents more readily. Staying in the family home is no longer seen as a personal failure but as a pragmatic choice in a difficult economic climate. This acceptance is encouraging new family arrangements, where intergenerational cohabitation can offer mutual benefits, such as financial security for young people and support for ageing parents. This survey shows that leaving home is no longer just a matter of personal motivation. Far from the cliches about lazy or spoilt children who refuse to grow up, a generation is emerging that is pragmatically balancing economic constraints with personal aspirations. A generation that proves that when it comes to leaving home, there is no longer just one path, but multiple routes to independence. – AFP Relaxnews

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