Most of us will grapple with the question of how to care for elderly relatives at some point. For many, multigenerational housing can be the answer. The ideal arrangement often provides caregivers with close proximity and peace of mind, while allowing the senior to maintain some autonomy. That’s where granny pods come in. Help your clients craft thoughtful spaces for their older loved ones with these guidelines.
What is a Granny Pod?
A granny pod, also known as an in-law cottage, is a detached, backyard guest house designed specifically to meet the needs of a senior. In these accessory dwelling units (or ADUs), accessibility and safety are paramount. Typically, the one-level, self-contained structures range in size from 250 to 900 square feet and include a living area, kitchenette, bedroom, and bathroom.
Benefits of a Granny Pod
A well-designed granny pod offers everything an elderly relative needs to live independently. Yet it also encourages daily interaction with family members who reside just steps away. Seniors avoid the sense of isolation that can accompany old age, while caregivers can more easily monitor their loved one’s health and better manage any chronic conditions. With close but separate living quarters, both the old and young preserve a degree of privacy.
Building a Granny Pod from Scratch
Conjuring a custom granny pod from the ground up allows you and your client to address the intended occupants’ current physical needs and mobility issues – and to anticipate their future needs as well. You can build to strict ADA standards or simply incorporate a number of aging-in-place design features, such as: wide doorways, lever door handles, motion-sensor lighting, zero-threshold shower, and grab bars. Advanced medical equipment can be added as needed.
Kitchenette Considerations
Planning a petite granny-pod kitchen comes with its unique set of ergonomic, accessibility, and space-saving concerns. Ponder these appliance solutions:
- Undercounter refrigeration: Refrigerator and freezer drawers are particularly good choices since they load from the top, eliminating the need to bend down or reach up to access items.
- Microwave drawers: Also integrated under the counter, these top-loading microwaves offer the same easy-access benefits as their refrigeration counterparts.
- French door ovens: Double doors that open from the center rather than the top mean the cook won’t have to awkwardly reach over a hot, pull-down door when lifting pans in and out of the oven. These ovens also require less clearance space in front than a traditional, pull-down door.
- Raised dishwasher: Elevating a dishwasher, typically eight inches or more, minimizes the need to stoop while loading or unloading and reduces back strain.
Dish drawers, rather than upper cabinets, offer convenient storage. Additional design modifications to consider in the kitchen include lowering the countertop height and rounding any corners.
A granny pod might be a best-of-both-worlds solution for caregivers and their aging parents. When your clients are ready to invest in a senior-living structure, send them to Friedman’s, where one of our knowledgeable team members can help thoughtfully outfit the kitchenette.