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Few people, if any, look forward to growing old and having to move out of the home they know and love into a nursing home or assisted living facility. It can be a disturbing and emotional change, and the further away that elders are from their friends and family the greater the potential for abuse.
Enter a new idea that is catching on: back-yard “pod” cottages for elder family members. This “pod” – commercial name MEDCottage – is like a small mobile home that can be rented and parked in a family’s back yard, hooked up to water and electrical service, and used for elderly parents or other relatives who want to preserve some independence but can’t stay in their own homes any more.
The units rent for about $2,000 a month and have proven especially popular in Virginia. The units are made to look like attractive little bungalows, and contain all the necessities of life including a kitchen, bathroom, health monitoring equipment, a lift, and security cameras.
The buildings are one-story, making them easier to move and cutting down on stairway falls. Falls – and the injuries that result from them – are one of the main reasons that elders end up in nursing homes. The idea may not appeal to everyone, and not everyone will have room for a backyard “pod”, but the opportunity to live close to family may prove to be a great new option for Virginia elders.
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