You might have heard of the trend of Millennials moving in with their parents after college, but in recent years, elderly parents are now just as likely to move in with their adult children. About 20 percent of households in the US currently have residents from two or more adult generations, and that number is rising. If there’s a chance your elderly parents – or any other relatives – might move in with you, here’s how you can modify your Scottsdale home or even plan ahead when you buy your next house.
Make your home safe for seniors
If you have some extra room in your current Scottsdale home and want to welcome your elderly parents, you should first make sure the area is safe. This means they should be able to live on the first floor of the house if possible, ensuring they won’t have to regularly climb stairs.
You may also need to make some improvements to the bathroom they will be using. For example, you can add a raised seat to the toilet, grab bars on the walls, and a bench for the shower. If your relatives use a walker or wheelchair, make sure the doorways are wide enough to accommodate it.
Set up a separate space in your home
If you have enough space in your home, consider creating a separate area for your parents before they move in. This could be just a guest bedroom with ensuite bathroom, which is a common setup in many Scottsdale homes. You can make this even more appealing by adding a separate entrance to the guest area so your relatives can come and go as needed.
A separate guest house (casita) is another option for housing your relatives. There are many homes in Scottsdale – including DC Ranch – that already have a casita. As a separate structure, the casita creates extra privacy for both you and your guests. Some casitas simply have a bedroom and bathroom, but others have a sitting area or kitchenette, or even a larger living room and full kitchen. Some even have a laundry area.
If your lot is big enough, you may have room to build one. If you live in a community with an HOA, be sure to check the design rules and guidelines about guesthouses in your neighborhood.
In some cases, just making a few changes to your current Scottsdale home will help your parents or other elderly relatives feel comfortable when they move in. But if there’s no way to make your house more spacious, safe, and appealing to older guests, The Matheson Team purchase a new Scottsdale home with the perfect layout to accommodate everyone in your household.
Don Matheson
Realtor | Founder
The Matheson Team – RE/MAX Fine Properties
21000 N. Pima Rd., #100, Scottsdale, AZ 85255
480-360-0281
don@scottsdalerealestate.com
