About 23 million Americans take care of their elderly parents in one way or another, according to AARP. From moving into your Cape Coral luxury homes to placement in a senior housing facility, there are many decisions adult children face as their parents age.
Rooms in Cape Coral Luxury Homes
Living in Cape Coral luxury homes typically means there is plenty of room. Most Cape Coral luxury homes have additional space and extra bedrooms that could easily house an aging parent, but it may not be the most convenient.
Extra rooms often lie on the second level of two-story Cape Coral luxury homes. Parents will have to make that upstairs and downstairs climb, which may be doable right now but what about a year from now? Plus, the goings on of the family may not make a stay at home the safest, depending on a parent’s medical health.
Senior Housing Options for Parents
Another frequently sought after alternative is senior housing facilities. In Cape Coral, there are many to choose from with varying levels of service; however, they can end up being quite costly. These types of homes range from the following:
- Independent Living
As known as retirement communities, these areas may come in the form of villas, townhouses, apartments or condominiums. Usually designed for seniors aged 55 or older, these facilities are for adults who are independent in both mind and body. They are fully capable of handling daily life skills such as cooking and hygiene requirements.
- Assisted Living
This type of housing option gives seniors personal care support services such as meals, medication management, bathing, dressing and transportation. With assisted living, the costs per month begin to rise with the added assistance that is necessary. According to Genworth.com, the average cost for a one-bedroom assisted living apartment in the U.S. in 2014 was $3,500 per month
- Full Care Homes
Full care homes also known as nursing homes are for seniors who require 24-hour monitoring along with some sort of assisted medical care. Anyone who is placed in a full care home typically has a severe illness that requires consistent monitoring. From diseases, including cardiac and respiratory illnesses, to an injury that may require ambulatory care, like a hip fracture, full care homes are designed for seniors who are unable to care for themselves.
Financially, these types of homes can be unrealistic especially because of the length of time a parent will end up living there. Another drawback is the anxiety that goes along with “placing” aging parents in a facility. We all have heard the stories of neglect and harm, and moving a family member into one of these facilities may cause a tremendous amount of guilt and stress on some families.
Creation of the Backyard Tiny Home
Tiny homes are all the rage, and they are now entering into the backyards of Cape Coral luxury homes as “Granny Pods”. The MEDCottage is a prefabricated guest house that comes with high-tech medical extras and a design layout made for older individuals.
The cottage is about 12 by 24 feet that houses a room for a bed, living room space, kitchenette and bathroom. Capable of accommodating a wheelchair and hospital equipment, the home includes standard safety features like lighted floorboards, hand railings, soft flooring, first aid supplies and defibrillators. When hooked up to the main home’s existing sewer, water and power lines, the cottage can be set up in a backyard in a day or two, zoning laws permitting.
Costs range from $40,000 to $60,000. Learn more about these Granny Pods at MEDCottage.
