The Emotional and Economic
Rewards of Multigenerational Homes
  For many families and cultures, including grandparents as part the household is nothing new. What is new is that today’s economic, cultural and demographic pressures have families of many different backgrounds rediscovering the rewards of multigenerational living.
Making room for your Mom or Dad can make very good economic sense, especially if the other option is a retirement community or an assisted living facility for them. These can cost thousands of dollars a month. Some facilities even require you to pay for the unit up front and then make monthly payments for maintenance. Plus, even elderly people who can’t live independently can still live well into their 80s and 90s making the price tag of assisted living nothing short of astronomical.
Multigenerational living can be a wonderful experience for the entire family – especially when everyone involved can enjoy all the richness of life together without the stress and strain of being crowded together in too small a home. And that’s where remodeling with an eye toward universal design and “aging in place” features can make a difference.
3 Remodeling Tips for Creating a Multigenerational Home
1. Create as much private space as possible. In-law suites are a great option. Depending on your budget, that could mean a simple master bedroom and full bath or a larger suite that includes a sitting room, small kitchen area, and even a private entrance. A larger suite provides additional privacy, giving all generations a separate space and it gives older people a feeling of greater independence.
 2. Design for easy access. Even if Mom is spry today, she may someday need to maneuver a walker through the house, so be proactive when you remodel and include “aging in place” features such as wider halls, easy-access doors, and barrier-free showers. In-law suites are ideally placed on the ground floor so grandparents won’t have to walk up and down too many stairs. If the suite needs to be on an upper level – or the basement level – a home elevator can be designed into the plan, or a simple stair-lift can be installed.
3. Safety comes first. The older we get, the more light our eyes need to see properly. Thus, appropriate lighting is an important factor for safety and the enjoyment of the space. Design in safety features like grab bars. Low, easy-to-reach shelving is important for accessibility and for reducing falls and other accidents. Also consider flooring carefully: a slick tile floor in the bathroom and a deep-pile carpet in the bedroom can both become accidents waiting to happen.
If you’re interested in creating a multigenerational home, we do hope you’ll call us. We can help you explore the smart and rewarding “senior living” options you have right at home.
Don't lose out on your $1,500 tax credit!
Federal Energy Tax Credits for Homeowners
Expire This December
The Federal Energy Tax Credit legislation granting you a 30% tax credit off the cost of certain energy improvements made in 2009 and 2010 – up to $1,500 – runs out at the end of this year.
If you haven't already, take advantage of these credits, lower your taxes and your energy bills. Give us a call and we can help you determine what energy-saving, tax-credit-eligible home improvements would be best for you. Remember, the qualifying home improvement must be in place before the end of the year. Call today!
Thanks for the Repeat Business!
We'd like to thank Elizabeth and Michael Balay, and Linda Smith, previous SilverMark clients, for asking us to do additional projects for them.
 See you next month!
Terry
Terry Streich, President
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