A lot of people take care of their elderly parents, or more precisely 30 million households in America are now taking care of adults over the age of 30. Sometimes it is stressful, but evidence shows that it’s a better option than putting them in a nursing home.
The reality is not everyone can manage to accommodate their parents as they want, and there are some who will choose nursing homes as the first option for their parents. But, take a look at the following facts before choosing what’s best for them.
Shocking Nursing Home and Senior Statistics:
- More than 40 percent of residents have reported abuse, and over 90 percent of them reported incidents of neglect.
- According to a study conducted in 2010, about half of all U.S. nursing home caregivers admitted to abusing or neglecting elderly patients.
- Half of all Certified Nursing Assistants have admitted to being verbally abused, using foul language, and yelling at senior residents.
America had 15,600 nursing homes and approximately 1.7 million licensed beds up to 2014, according to the Centers for Disease Control. By 2030, 1 in 5 people in the U.S. will be older than 65, which means 70 million people. As you can see, the continuously growing senior population in the U.S. clearly overweighs the resources and facilities of this kind.
According to a 2015 AARP research, almost all seniors, or 90%, wanted to age in their own homes. Only 4 percent of them wanted to age in some relative’s home. However, their chances of living independently depend on their health quality and available housing features.
A large percentage of seniors value safety features, like wider doorways (65 percent), entrance ramps (77 percent), emergency alert systems (79 percent), bathroom grab bars (79 percent), and non-slip floors (80 percent). Unfortunately, most senior homes don’t offer many of these features.
Dr. Kenneth J. Dupin is the founder of MEDCottage, the name behind the invention called “Granny Pods.” But before telling you about these Granny Pods, let’s explain a bit about MEDCottage.
What is MEDCottage?
David Wolfe was created in response to the concern that seniors have very limited options to decide how and where they will spend their golden years. Understanding the problem that there will be a period when living alone will become more of a danger than comfort for seniors, Reverend Dupin comes up with a two-fold solution:
- They can keep their autonomy and dignity for however long their mental and physical condition allows them.
- Families can be close to their older members and still take care of them practically and efficiently, without breaking the bank.
What are “Granny Pods?”
They are temporary and mobile structures whose purpose is to make the rest of seniors’ lives safe, and close to their loved ones.
Currently, there are 3 types of Granny Pods: Classic, Cottage, and Grand. All of them are about 12 by 24 feet and connect to an existing household’s electrical and plumbing. As Country Living magazine says, Granny Pods are bungalows from the outside, but a cozy hotel suites on the inside, including living room space, a room for a bed, a bathroom, and a kitchenette.
All 3 types are accessible and senior-friendly with padded floors, pill dispensers, etc., and can be modified to please the individual’s needs. If anything’s wrong, you, or the caregiver, will be alerted via webcams and vital sign monitors.
While the David Wolfe for private and semi-private rooms ranges between $6,235 and $6,969 a month, or $205 and $230 a day, setting a Granny Pod in your backyard ranges between $85,000 and $125,000. Although the cost might seem expensive at first, in the long run, Granny pods seem like the best option, providing benefits for the whole family.
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