Wonder Cottage or Granny Pod?
One of the Tiny House Blog readers Ginmar spotted this article in the Washington Post and I thought I would show it to you.
The Rev. Kenneth Dupin, who leads a small Methodist church here, has a vision: As America grows older, its aging adults could avoid a jarring move to the nursing home by living in small, specially equipped, temporary shelters close to relatives.
So he invented the MEDcottage, a portable high-tech dwelling that could be trucked to a family’s back yard and used to shelter a loved one in need of special care. Continue to read the full article at the Washington Post site.
22 Responses to “Wonder Cottage or Granny Pod?”
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I think this is an interesting concept. Does anyone else think it is strange that it is drawn with the bed so prominently in the center of the main room? I mean, really, would you want to walk right in the big French door and then have to shuffle around the bed bed to get to the kitchen?
As one of those this cottage is directed towards, it sure looks like a prison cell to me.
I agree with Louise and Wil, if the bed is the primary place for the granny, there needs to be a room for an attendant. I would never leave my bedridden granny alone even with an electronic tv monitor.
I don’t know. My grandfather reached a point in his 90′s where he was still very coherent and independent around the house, but what he did most of the time was to find a place to sit and relax and to nap on and off. He needed a bathroom close by that he didn’t have to hike to the other end of the house for, and he wanted easy access to the kitchen to grab something to eat. This would have been ideal for his needs, in my opinion.
I like it alot. Of course, there are always going to be things that would or would not apply to someone’s care. In general, the concept of having a portable mini- cottage delivered for short or long term care so that one can be near family is great! They do point out that there is a possibility for a Murphy bed on the illustration. And besides if one is paying someone to stay with a person, you probably don’t want them sleeping on the job, unless it is a family member then a Murphy bed would do just fine. Another solution to replace institutional care…I really like it!
If only one person is allowed to live in it and it’s for medical reasons, they’d most likely have a hospital type bed anyway rather than a huge queen sized thing. That bed would make patient care more complicated and be really hard on the caregiver’s back if they have to move the patient a lot. A caregiver might have to ‘sleep on the job’ if there’s 24 hour care required. A small sleeping alcove for the caregiver would help maintain a bit of privacy while still allowing them to monitor the patient. Overall it’s a good option for a particular set of needs, possibly adaptable for others. It appears to be more of an additional room with extras than an actual fully fledged home.
Did anyone read the actual article? The supposed bleeding heart intends to lease these pods for 2K a month and expects insurance to pick up the tab!!! Ridiculous!
Also, has anyone considered how they would get these “pods” into the backyards of many communities where there is barely room to walk between houses? These was not a very well thought out idea on this mans part.
This may be true is some locations but as a Realtor I have seen many houses that have enough area for something like this, but the main house itself is not suitable for an elderly person. But this would be doable. Even if they did not need all the speciality items that this unit has but would work for many eledrly family members even in a duplex setting and town home communities that have larger yard areas here in southern and southwestern Virginia Judy
I have full intentions not to be a “burden” to my family when I’m older, so I’m going to restore and reconfigure the basement area- my bedroom and bath will be adjacent to the downstairs family room. I’ll have contact with the family, but stairs won’t be an issue. It would make depression a likely outcome if I were isolated in a outdoor unit. I feel using the existant space is better for the “greening” of America and better for the mental welfare of oldsters.
The kitchen area could be smaller (what’s with the full-sized fridge? seems excessive) and having the gigantic bed smack in front of glass doors seems odd. There’s little dignity if there’s no privacy.
I find it admirable that someone is tackling the looming problem of home care for the aging baby boom population.
The design problems can be addressed as this is only a computer generated concept.
I just taught a class in greywater and would love to find source’s of funding to address water reuse…
1/3 or 1/2 the price of a nursing home and 10′ from my grandkids… I’d take this any day! This might be the most important small home ever designed. And the only one that will benefit 100,000s or millions of people.
I’ve heard that being thrown into a nursing home (usually after a visit to the hospital leads to a Dr. saying you can’t go home) causes significant anxiety and in turn health problems. The stress of leaving your family literally kills you… and in a lonely way.
It’s furniture, you can furnish the space any way you like. It could even be divided between a small bed and sitting room or desk. It’s up to the owner.
It may be less expensive to convert a garage that is already attached to a house. If you create an elevated floor, plumbing and heating can be attached to the existing house.
This may be unrealistic:
- Medicare does not cover long-term nursing home care.
- This may not qualify with other insurance plans.
- Caring for a bedridden patient is a 24-hour responsibility.
With so small a space as this, the kitchen area should not be in a separate room. Removing the wall between the kitchen and main room will make the living space larger.
And I agree with others that point out that the bed is too big for one person in a small “apartment”. A twin bed along the back wall is sufficient (and it could be converted into a sofa during the day by adding some pillows).
Why is the ceiling so high in the main room? That might make it much harder to transport. This is an interesting concept but the design is very rough.
This is great and doable..I have three friends
that are entertaining the idea of a granny pod
versus building an extention to existing house
for an elderly parent who need assisted living.
A Murphy bed can be installed for a caregiver’s
visits..Pod costs same as one year of 24 hour
care..think about that! Of course they all
live on acreage but have to adhere to permit
regulations.
I heard a report on NPR regarding granny pods with computerized video support.
I believe that the concept of the granny pod does have merit for the elder individual that is not bed bound or who requires others to assist them in daily activities.
However, the “pod” as described, on your property, omits the important concept of plumbing. Where’s the water coming from?
Where does the kitchen, laudry and bathroom waste go?
How will these services be accomplished if not tied into the “main” house services?
Regarding insurance/Medicare payment, I’ll just bet that this concept is less expensive than full time nursing houme or assisted living arrangements. Once that’s made clear, then insurance companies will jump to pay for it. They may require a “doctor’s order” but that should not be an issue.
Just an add on.
Electric, Heating and Air Conditioning are not addressed in this plan.
As it stands, its a fair weather concept.
Thanks,
Mike
This is intended to be a portable, temporary structure to help in the transistion of older relatives from living on their own to having a bit of help close at hand. No, it is not for a caregiver to live in too. The person living in the main house is the intended helper, to check in on Dad, Granny, etc during the day and help with meals or medications as needed. It also gives the person that needs assistance some privacy and a sense of independence.
Many people don’t have an extra living space to dedicate for this purpose.
I have a rep group covering the Southeastern US
I am very interested in this product.
Please contact me.
Jay McGinn
mcginnassociates@cs.com
704-661-6569
Jay – you need to contact the company, this is just a post about them. – Kent (Tiny House Blog)