Many older adults and their families dread a move into a nursing home, but an alternative—moving in with family—isn’t always a top choice either, writes an MSN Money piece that pits so-called ‘granny pods’ against senior care communities.
The article compares the costs and benefits associated with nursing home and assisted living care versus those of various modular units that can be temporarily placed on a property, such as the Care Cottage, the MEDCottage, and PALS.
Small modular units, dubbed “granny pods,” can serve as an alternative to a nursing home. Compact, specifically designed to meet medical needs and relatively inexpensive compared to living in a facility, they bring assisted living right into your backyard.
AdvertisementBecause of their modular design, most assisted-living units can be installed as temporary structures. When they are no longer needed, they can be sold back to the distributor, allowing the homeowner to recoup part of the cost.
While modular designs offer affordability, portability and the option of keeping loved ones close to home, they are banned by zoning regulations in many communities. [MEDCottage creator N2Care’s CEO and founder Ken] Dupin says that in 2010, N2Care was successful in getting Virginia to pass a law superseding local zoning ordinances. The measure allows families with a doctor’s order to put modular medical dwellings on their property.
Four other states, including New York and California, have enacted similar legislation. As more and more baby boomers start needing assisted-living care in the coming years, Dupin believes more codes will be changed to allow such units.
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Read more at MSN Money.
Written by Alyssa Gerace
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