Is your new home in your kids’ back yard?

By Patricia Mertz Esswein

When Cary Childre, 65, considered moving closer to her daughter living in an Atlanta suburb, she realized she couldn’t afford to buy “much of anything.” So, her daughter researched building a cottage in her own back yard.

They made a deposit on a Craftsmanstyle design by a local architect who will manage the project from permits to completion. The 429-square-foot home will have one bedroom and bathroom, a galley kitchen and living area, and a small, covered porch.

Home care

From page B-14

Hiring home care services

Finding the best type of care for an aging loved one can be tricky. Regardless of whether services are intended to be temporary or permanent, in-home care can keep people happy and healthy in their own homes, and can often delay or completely prevent the need for a long-term care facility. Do your homework, ask lots of ques- tions and learn as much as possible about your loved one’s health status and current and future needs.

Fueled by an aging population and a scarcity of affordable housing, accessory dwelling units (ADUs) are a hot new trend in multigenerational living. You may know them better as in-law suites, garage apartments, carriage houses, casitas and granny pods. Freddie Mac said the share of for-sale listings with an ADU rose 8.6% year-over-year since 2009.

These homes can be created by finishing a basement or attic, converting a garage, reconfiguring unused space, adding or custom-building a detached unit, or installing a prefabricated one.

If you’ve determined that in-home care is the right fit, you’ll want to seek referrals from physicians, friends and family members and begin the interview and in-home consultation process with providers in your area.

This article was originally published by AgingCare.com. It has been reprinted with permission.