A
2010 AARP study revealed that 88% of the elderly want to live in their own
homes in their own communities. Grandma or
Grandpa do not want to go to assisted living or a nursing home, so… what to do?
Consider MEDCottage, an open floor
plan prefab 12’x24’ bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette unit, free-standing, that
might fit into your backyard. It
includes high-tech monitoring and safety features, sometimes more or better
than you can find in a nursing home.
Included are a microwave, washer-dryer combo and refrigerator. Bathrooms can allow maneuvering a
wheelchair. Utilities and plumbing
connect these temporary medical dwellings to primary residence, providing
proximity to loved ones and reducing stress for all.
Cottage
can cost under $50,000 new and some distributors buy it back after 24 months
usage. Nursing homes can run upwards of
$6000 a month, making this purchase add up savings, while keeping an elderly
person near their loved ones. Professional
care and meals will add to the cost. Some
health policies cover home health care.
Special
rubber floors deter breaks when falls occur – “You can drop an egg from 18
inches onto the special flooring without breaking it.” For safer bathroom visits, a runway mat that
lights up when you step on it stretches from bed to toilet and turns off after
10 minutes. A lift or trapeze hook is
attached to ceiling tracks. The hooks
help with balance issues and the lift is for serious mobility challenges. A camera can transmit to a house computer,
e.g. with images of feet and ankles, in case of a fall. More sophisticated equipment can be added,
tracking various conditions and sharing the details with family and
physicians. An audio system can remind
the patient to take medication and can text the caregiver.
Another
prefab option is a Practical
Assisted Living Structure, 14’x24’, with some models allowing access to the
first floor of the primary home.
Forerunners
of these updated homes, in the 1970’s, the Australians started building “granny
flats,” simple backyard homes for the elderly.
Local zoning rules need to be checked out as some states allow these
accessory dwellings for a family member and others don’t but may be considering
appropriate legislation for them. Some
legislation states the cottages need a physician’s verification that the
patient needs assistance with at least two daily functions,, e.g. bathing, eating
and dressing. The dwellings are removed
when no longer needed.
Some
long term care plans pay
the patient for in home care and they can pay that to anyone, including a
family member.
Both
companies above have facebook pages with more details and googling these
companies can provide a great deal of further information. Be aware of these solutions in case they are
needed.
