A growing trend these da
ys are backyard “Granny Pods” where your family member can live independently but you can keep an eye on them. It is a great alternative to a nursing home and it keeps your family engaged.
The basic cottage is around 12 ft x 24 ft or the size of a master bedroom and looks like a hotel suite. There is a small kitchen and a bathroom. They come with vinyl siding and double French doors to accommodate wheelchairs and equipment. There are amenities such as railings, first aid supplies, timed medication dispensers, toilets that measure weight, temperature and urine content as well as lighted floorboards and soft floors for falls.
You can install a video system that monitors at floor level to give the person privacy but a family member would know if there was a problem. A virtual companion can relay messages such as reminders for medication but also play movies and games.
We worry about our elderly family members and always want the best for them, this allows you to keep them very close to home.