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    Categories: Familylife

‘Granny Pods’ Allow Aging Parents To Live In Adult Children’s Backyard, Keeping Them Safer And Closer


Parents give all their time and effort to make sure their children can grow up well.

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Then the time comes when the roles were switched and it is adult children’s turn to take care of their aging parents.

Putting parents away in nursing homes may not be a feasible solution and it also causes anxiety and guilt. This is where Granny Pods come in!

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MEDCottage or the Granny Pod is a small home designed by a Blacksburg, VA, company with the help of Virginia Tech.

The units are an affordable alternative to nursing home and designed to be installed easily in the backyard.

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The pre-fabricated pods can be thought of as guest houses with high-tech medical attachments.

“The MEDCottage is a mobile, modular medical dwelling designed to be temporarily placed on a caregiver’s property for rehabilitation and extended care,” the website states.

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“Simply stated, it’s a state-of-the-art hospital room with remote monitoring available so caregivers and family members have peace of mind knowing they are providing the best possible care. Close proximity is so important when keeping family engaged in our life. This solution provides a beautiful dwelling close to the people we love.”

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Each pod comes with a bed, kitchenette, living room, and bathroom. It also has a set of standard safety features including lighted floorboards, defibrillators, hand railings, a soft floor, and first aid supplies. The structure features the facility and double French doors to accommodate a wheelchair and other hospital equipment.

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The unit come in three variations: the MEDCottage Classic Redesign, MotherShip and the LivingROO.

The Mothership or the Rehabilitation Pod is a great option for people worried about zoning laws. The pods ‘can be placed in ninety percent of the municipalities in the US’ as they are designed on an RV platform.

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The LivingRoo is designed to fit inside a two-way garage space and has a kit that homeowners can assemble on their own. MEDCottage Classic Redesign has similar design to the original house.

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Jane Marie O’Connor, a building industry consultant, said: “One key element that can still be missing would be human contact. Living in or near the home of an adult child who is likely gone all day provides little or no stimulation if there is no opportunity for socialization, which many assisted-living facilities are good at providing.

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“Make the choice with thoughtful purpose, and don’t plan to just park somebody there. Plan how to help her stay engaged in the wider community. And don’t forget that at-home health care always takes a toll on the caregiver. Again, plan ahead for support and relief from care duties.”

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What do you think about the pods? Let us know in the comments section and SHARE this post with your family and friends!

 

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