Installing an Apartment in Your Garage Offers Both Privacy and Peace-of-Mind for a Loved One
INSIDER TIP:
A specialized conversion of a two-car garage to an apartment is an affordable way to keep loved ones close to you and also maintain independence.
 Indianapolis-based Next Door Garage Apartments has developed an answer to the question of how to be there for an aging parent while respecting both of your needs for independence and privacy: move them into their own apartment— in your garage! Requiring only minimal labor and a brief 10-day installation, the pre-fabricated, modular package can transform a two-car garage into a comfortable apartment for an affordable price.
Next Door Garage Apartments provide an alternative to placing an active or homebound senior in an assisted living facility or moving him or her into your existing household. With his or her own apartment inside your home, your loved one can maintain a sense of their own independence, but still be close enough for you to care for them and be there in case of an emergency. If you are a senior who needs care but would prefer to keep living in your own home on your terms, the new apartment could also provide separate housing for a live-in caregiver or hospice worker.
The Next Door Garage Apartment comes fully equipped and includes:
- microwave and refrigerator
- handicap accessible bathroom for inhabitants with limited mobility
- connection to existing house utilities for its electricity, water, and other utilities
- independent heating, air conditioning, and a hot water controls
Since the apartment doesn't require an additional utility connection and is classified as a temporary remodel within an existing structure, most homeowners won't need to get a separate building permit to have one installed. However, if you contact the NDGA staff they will check local laws and building regulations in advance—at no cost—to ensure that you can add one to your home.
The Next Door Garage Apartment has an affordable base price of $35,000, installation is free within their home state of Indianapolis, but carries a 15% or lower premium for installation in other states, varying by location. If needed, the apartment can be removed quickly and easily in a few days. Currently, only a two-car garage package is available.
Refresher: Next Door Garage Apartments on your existing property allow an aging senior to get the care and support they need while retaining their independent lifestyle.
Extra Credit:
Learn more about possibilities in Real Estate and try Tips and Resources for Aging in Place.
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Tough Conversations
For many adult children talking to a parent about the future seems daunting. Let our Expert Columnists let you in on how to handle these tough conversations, including
Don’t wait on important discussions. Make sure that you are clear on your parents’ wishes and what they would want done in the event that they need to bring in help to the home, move in with you or to a facility or if your relationship with them must change due to illness.
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