Are Granny Pods The Future of Elder Care?
The MedCottage is a new type of portable, small dwelling. Designed by a Virginia-based company with advice from Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center, the MedCottage is classified by Virginia state law as a temporary, family health-care structure. It is better known by its nickname: “granny pod.”
These auxiliary dwelling units, or ADUs, are part of an expected, growing demand to provide housing and care for the elderly as Baby Boomers “gray.” According to the Census Bureau, the number of Americans 65 and older has increased faster than the total population. It is expected that the U.S. will have more than 72 million people older than 65 within the next two decades, many of whom will likely need some sort of care.
Other ADUs showing up on the market are the Seattle-based FabCabs, Massachusetts-based in-law modulars known as “Elderly Cottage Housing Opportunities,” and freestanding models from Connecticut called “Practical Assisted Living Solutions,” or “PALS.”
The MedCottage has a steel shell, surveillance cameras, and an Internet portal with which to monitor the occupant’s vital signs, receive any alerts, and heat or cool the dwelling. The MedCottage currently sells for approximately $85,000.
The elder law attorneys at Hook Law Center assist Virginia families with will preparation, trust & estate administration, guardianships and conservatorships, long-term care planning, special needs planning, veterans benefits, and more. To learn more, visit https://api.hooklaw.net/ or call 757-399-7506.
