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In many ways, the future of senior housing is right in front of us. Aging adults are living longer and demand for assisted living, nursing homes, and other senior housing options is growing rapidly. Aging adults need places to live that can accommodate their changing needs as they grow older. The challenge is creating homes that meet their specific needs while also meeting the needs of their families and communities at large. There are pros and cons to any situation or choice, but we can see some clear benefits of adding an ADU as a new addition to existing homes. ADUs have been used recently as a way to help aging loved ones stay in their own home for longer by creating an additional unit on their property that has its own entrance.
Ageing Baby Boomers
The aging population of Baby Boomers has been a key driver of the demand for senior housing options. In America, the average age of a nursing home patient is 84. With the average life expectancy increasing every year, this suggests that many people are potentially spending their last years in a nursing home. Many people are living long, healthy lives, and more people are choosing to age in place. This means that more people will be needing access to senior living options.
Sustainable Design
The biggest advantage of including the ADU in the design of a new home is that it can be designed to be a truly sustainable and affordable addition to the home. You are able to plan for the needs and desires of your family and their specific situation in terms of age and care needs. Additionally, you are able to meet the specific needs of your community by planning for the energy needs of your family and their ADU. Additionally, you can plan for the future in terms of the number of people in your family and community who might need assistance and what kind of care they might need. You can include options that can be easily adapted and modified as needs change through the years. This kind of sustainable design is key to meeting the specific needs of your family and community, while also being financially feasible.
Financial Opportunity
Another key advantage of including the ADU in the design of a new home is that it can help you to maximize any financial opportunities that might exist. Adding an ADU can help you to avoid the need to use precious retirement funds to pay for assisted living or other senior housing options. And you might even be able to use the rental income from your ADU to cover some of the cost of the assisted living. This financial opportunity can be especially helpful for many families. Financial need is often a key reason for needing to move loved ones into a nursing home. ADUs are a way to help families meet their specific needs while also making financial sense.
Conclusion
In many ways, the future of senior housing is right in front of us. Aging adults are living longer and demand for assisted living, nursing homes, and other senior housing options is growing rapidly. Aging adults need places to live that can accommodate their changing needs as they grow older. The challenge is creating homes that meet their specific needs while also meeting the needs of their families and communities at large. There are pros and cons to any situation or choice, but we can see some clear benefits of adding an ADU as a new addition to existing homes. ADUs have been used recently as a way to help aging loved ones stay in their own home for longer by creating an additional unit on their property that has its own entrance.
