Elder Cottage Makes Its Debut

A few weeks ago, Fredrick Kunkle from The Washington Post wrote a story about a new prototype dwelling that has been capturing people’s attention. The MedCottage is a technology-equipped, temporary shelter for an aging family member. The concept of a secondary suite, sometimes called a “mother-in-law” house, has been around for many years. But the company calling itself N2Care has unveiled a concept in partnership with remote monitoring provider CloseBy Network. CloseBy Network’s key products include a series of passive sensors for gather data about activities such as opening and closing of doors and other movement inside areas of the home.

As the cost of third-party facilities for independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing continue to rise, families will be looking for more affordable solutions. And the proximity to family and friends is an important feature of a concept like the MedCottage. But as Kunkle’s article notes, the concept has its detractors including potential neighbors who may view the dwellings to be “unsightly” to experts in aging who worry about an increase in cases of elder neglect.

Already bloggers are picking up on the concept and making design suggestions. Many are hoping that the next versions will be better looking. Perhaps we will see a series of independent re-design suggestions start to appear. Kunkle also notes competitors to the MedCottage such as FabCab and Larson + Shores Architects.