Many families often have to deal with a certain dilemma at some point in time: where do they house their older relatives? Up until recently there were only two real choices: place them in an assisted living facility or have them move into one’s own home. Assisted living facilities can be expensive  and moving in with their family is often inconvenient as well, due to the fact that there is often the need for additional modifications to be made to the home to make it accessible for the elderly.  Over the last few years, the use of “granny flats” has emerged as a popular alternative.

A granny flat, or accessory dwelling unit, which is its technical term, is a small modular home designed to sit alone in the back yard or as an addition to the main house. They are specifically designed with the elderly in mind, allowing them to age in place without any problems. Many of these granny flats come with built in utilities for a number of medical devices, such as systems that monitor vital signs or oxygen equipment. One reason these units have become so popular is the fact that zoning rules in many areas have changed to allow homeowners to build smaller residential structures in their backyards.

A granny flat is a great way to allow an elderly family member to have all the home modifications they need, not to mention the support of nearby family members, all while living independently within their own home. To discuss remodeling your home and possibly adding a granny flat contact Design Build Team today!

Image: Builder Magazine

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