Usually it starts small. You want to accompany your aging parents to the doctor. Or your mom and dad need assistance with home repairs more frequently. Or the problem is simple distance—the seniors in your family are a long car or plane ride away. Your folks are still active and no one needs full-time care, but everyone would feel better if they all lived in closer proximity to each other. Not to mention the idea of having built-in babysitters in your literal backyard starts to sound more and more enticing as time goes by.
These are how the conversations around ADUs for seniors begin. Families don’t necessarily start looking into an ADU or tiny house for seniors in their lives because something big has gone wrong. Rather, it tends to be an accumulation of small things that sparks the discussion about multigenerational family living. And the idea of housing everyone under one roof—asking a young family to sacrifice a spare bedroom and aging parents to give up having their own home—often leads families to explore backyard ADUs as a viable solution to an ever-more-common conundrum.
They Call Them Granny Flats for a Reason
Living near family is not the same as living with family, as any family that has spent time living communally, whether by choice or circumstance, can attest. A tiny home or accessory dwelling unit for seniors in your life can provide the four walls and independent lifestyle active grandparents may seek while still being able to take advantage of the benefits that come with increased proximity. In other words, with a tiny home or ADU, seniors can have the best of all worlds: Their own separate living space with private kitchen, bathroom, living area and entrance that also happens to be within walking distance of children and grandchildren.
After all, before they were called ADUs or tiny homes, this type of small and self-contained housing was more commonly known as “granny flats.” Multigenerational living is nothing new and those who have unlocked its secrets are well aware of the advantages that come with keeping family close—literally. Meals can happen more often. A ride is easier to arrange. If something needs attention, help is nearby. There’s more of the proverbial village on hand to help care for children. Yet, at the end of the day, everyone still goes home to their own space and the peace of mind that goes with it.
Tiny House for Seniors Tip: Purpose-Build for Parents
Building a tiny house for senior parents is definitely a task that requires good project management. That’s where we come in. At West Coast Homes, whether you’re calling it a backyard ADU, a tiny home or a granny flat, we are building them in increasing numbers and fielding a greater number of inquiries than ever before. This is our area of expertise and we can guide all the generations of your family through the process in a way that makes stakeholders feel seen but keeps the build on task, on budget and on time.
Your role, to relocate your parents and prepare them to vacate a home that they may have lived in for decades, can be complex, requiring love and patience rather than drywall and siding. To put it plainly, an aging parent is not a project to manage. Very often, they are leaving a home, neighborhood and routine behind. No matter how eager everyone is to move forward, they should have a meaningful say in what comes next. And what comes next can influence your ADU build.
For instance: What furniture needs to come along? Are there pets involved that need planning for? Will this tiny home for seniors need enough space for visitors? Would your parents prefer to be near the main house or do they enjoy their privacy? Giving them a voice and allowing them to make choices such as cabinet colors, windows and outdoor space can help a new place feel like their home.
You also have to consider how your parents will age in their tiny home. ADUS for seniors that are designed specifically with that age group in mind do not have to feel industrial. Single-level living, easy entry, comfortable lighting, unobtrusive grab bars and balance aids, and room to move freely can be worked into an ADU that is warm, personal and inviting. The best and most well-designed ADUs for seniors are those that can allow for changing needs as time goes by.
Bring the Family Together…But Keep Them Just Close Enough
Making the shift to multigenerational living is a big transition. But if your thought process has you considering choosing between finding a nearby home or apartment for your parents (at no small cost to your finances) or moving them into a spare bedroom (at no small cost to your mental and emotional well-being), a purpose-built ADU for senior parents might be the viable third option you’ve yet to consider fully. Planned, designed and built thoughtfully, a tiny home or ADU for seniors can bring a family together while leaving room for privacy and independence.
At West Coast Homes, an integral and vital part of the process of starting any build is taking the time to understand who will live in the home and how they want to live. If your family is beginning this conversation, we can help you explore ADUs for seniors according to what will work for your particular property, budget and—most importantly—what will work for your parents. Reach out to us to learn more and continue the discussion.
