"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."
At some point in our lives, we end up switching roles with our parents. We tend to keep worrying about them and their health, as they get older. After a while, when they become incapable of looking after themselves, we must step in as the role of a caregiver, but there are limitations to that. As for packing them up and sending them to a senior home, it simply feels wrong, if nothing, and it's also rather expensive.
What exactly can you do, then? Well, this is where the Granny Pod comes in.
The Granny Pod, also known as the MEDCottage or in-law cottage, is essentially a tiny home cum portable hospital room designed by a Blacksburg, VA, company with the help of Virginia Tech.
Granny Pods are advertised as an affordable alternative to nursing homes, it is reportedly designed in a way so that it can be installed in your backyard. According to Country Living, these pre-fabricated MEDCottages can be thought of as guest houses with a bunch of high-tech medical attachments.
The company's website states: "The MEDCottage is a mobile, modular medical dwelling designed to be temporarily placed on a caregiver's property for rehabilitation and extended care. 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."
Now that your loved ones are right there with you, in your backyard, there's nothing you have to worry about. Each MEDCottage comes with room for a bed, living room space, bathroom, and a kitchenette. It also comes fitted with a set of standard safety features including hand railings, defibrillators, lighted floorboards, first aid supplies.
The pod also boasts of a soft floor to minimize any harm that could be caused by falls.
Each cottage is approximately the size of a master bedroom; about 12 by 24 feet. Additionally, the structure also features double French doors and the facility to accommodate a wheelchair and necessary hospital equipment, based on need.
According to AARP, the MEDCottage falls under the ADU (accessory dwelling units), and this might warrant approval from local agencies since these pods are hooked on to the main home's existing sewer, water, and power lines.
Also, these pods don't come cheap. Speaking to CNBC, financial planner Carolyn McClanahan said, "If people can age in place and age at home it’s much healthier, and the family is happier, but it can be very expensive. Granny pods can cost anywhere from $100,000 to $250,000.So you got to weigh longevity in there with it."
These pods do make financial sense in the long run when compared to the cost of assisted living care, but McClanahan clarifies that such pods aren't a viable option for "someone with dementia or in need of help with daily tasks".
Well, what do you think? Would you be getting one for someone you love?
References:
https://www.countryliving.com/home-design/a37788/granny-pods/
https://medcottage.com/the-story-.html
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/18/granny-pods-become-a-solution-for-retirees-with-limited-budgets.html
Cover Image Source: Facebook | MEDCottage
