Low Cost – High Impact Multigenerational Living Accommodations

With the ever rising costs of extended care for our elder loved ones, and children returning home after college many families are creating a multigenerational home.  This is not new concept, this was the norm for many of our pre -WWII generations, many families are seeing the benefits of this arrangement again. With some adjustments you can create a comfortable, safe and accommodating home for all generations.

When modifying your home to accommodate someone with limited mobility you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot. There are some very economical changes you can make that have a big impact, you can add handrails in hallways and bathrooms to help with balance, change light switches to sliding switches or rockers instead of toggles, door knobs can be changed to lever types and changing bulbs to a brighter wattage or adding nightlights will create a more accessible and safer environment.

For those homes with small children, install swing gates at doorways or even consider a Dutch door or half door, child resistant latches for doors and drawers, plugs in outlets and securing large objects like flat screen TV’s so they can’t topple are priorities.

For returning college students adding a layer of insulation in walls by installing Styrofoam panels will help create a noise barrier, suspended shelving racks for plastic storage bins on the ceiling of garages keeps things dry, easily accessible and takes up no floor space.

Consider adding an additional washer and dryer in a more accessible spot like the attached garage, or converting a first floor bathroom or den to accommodate a stacking set. Also think about the increased demand for hot water, an additional 40 gallon tank can help.

Outside, add ramps in place of steps, raise flower or vegetable beds in the form of boxes on legs so that gardeners don’t have to stoop to ground level, consider adding contracting or coil type hoses that will be easier to move around and less likely to be tripped on. Fences or a good solid hedge keep wandering to a minimum and keep unwanted visitors out as well.

These are just a few changes that can be made without a major renovation and there are many more high impact- low cost changes that are helpful for an expanding or contracting living arrangement. Converting attics, basements, garages and outbuildings for additional living space are options to consider when looking at a longer term solution.