The New York Times recently published a great article discussing how ADUs are a great option for elderly housing - whether moving into an ADU as you age or even building them for adult children to be close by. Multi-generational living can have tremendous benefits, and building an ADU can be a lot more affordable than renting in a retirement community. It is great to see that ADUs are growing in popularity across the country.
We have been designing ADUs for almost 10 years now, and housing for elderly people is one of the main reasons our clients have decided to pursue adding an Accessory Dwelling Unit to their property. Some were younger couples building an ADU for an aging family member to live (It is enticing to have some on-site childcare from grandma). While others were building an ADU designed for aging-in-place and barrier free living so they could downsize yet stay in the community they have grown to love. In this case, renting out the main house generated income for retirement and more than offset the cost of building the ADU.
Regardless of the reason, ADUs are great options for senior housing as it keeps them engaged in the community, brings them closer to family, and is often much more affordable than renting in a retirement community.
It is great to see communities across the country embrace ADUs as a great housing option. They won’t solve housing shortages along, but are a step in the right direction and can help provide a more diverse range of housing to address issues like senior living.
Here is the link to the full article written by Paula Span:
