Of course, some accommodations for older people do not preclude them from living near their families. In fact, they may even live on the same piece of property. Quite often, elderly individuals will reside in units that are their own separate dwelling spaces, but are usually contained on the same lot or even are attached to the building in some way.

As is wont to happen with long-term elderly care (note the aforementioned discussion of home health aides and their various synonyms), there are numerous names for these structures. Some may refer to a particular unit as an in-law apartment, secondary suite or even a granny flat (primarily in other English-speaking countries). However, for our purposes here, we will refer to a qualifying residence as either a guest apartment or guest house. Some notes about the use of these spaces:

Though it likely goes without saying, a guest apartment or guest house lies ancillary to the main home. Such accommodations are usually capable of being self-sufficient apart from the primary residence, including standard amenities like a bathroom, kitchen, and bedroom/converted sleeping space.

Thus, they are not meant for a whole family, but rather an individual such as a senior citizen living on his or her lonesome, and with little need for anything beyond these simple features. Certainly, though, a guest apartment or guest house may still be furnished with specially designed facilities, floors and furniture designed to prevent falls or serious injury. 

As to where these types of dwellings tend to stand in relation to the main structure, as noted, they may be either part of the same building or nearby. Concerning a guest apartment, although they may be dictated by the preexisting conditions of the house, there are definitely options to be played around with.

For one, depending on what is feasible, a guest apartment may either lie above the first floor of a one-family home, below it, as in a converted basement, or connected even to a detached garage. As for a guest house, sometimes termed a garden suite, it may be a separate unit on the premises, which may be more characteristic of a larger estate. Plus, when a family member ceases to use it, it may be rented out to non-relative guests, making it a “guest house” in the truest sense of the word(s).

Imaginably, the creation of a guest apartment or guest house in the absence of one requires the means to make this decision a reality. First and foremost, the family opting for this course of action will likely need to front most or all of the cost themselves, or will be paying out of pocket in installments.

Beyond this, though, before constructing such a unit, interested parties must receive clearance from the proper authorities lest they erect something illegally on their space. Accordingly, they should consult the municipal body with jurisdiction over these matters for assistance and clarifying information a midst the planning process.

 Sometimes, it is not as if older people may not live alone by themselves, but that they do not have a residence on which they can really count. Senior living arrangements may be a tricky subject indeed. In the event elder members of society can neither afford their current domicile nor live with their kin, they may be charged with finding a different space to call their own.

At the same time, however, there is a strong likelihood that they will not be able to work anymore given their advanced age, or the likelihood that they do not have a huge amount of savings to put toward securing a place. Subsidized senior housing, then, might be these individuals’ saving grace. For the reader who is not too familiar with the concept of subsidized housing, here are some ideas about what subsidized senior living may entail:

Obviously, critical to understanding subsidized senior housing is knowing what “subsidized” means in the first place. Something that is subsidized is paid for (at least in part) by government monies, also predictably known as “subsidies.” As such, subsidized senior living spaces are just what they sound like. Where exactly do these subsidies come from, though, and what must people do to qualify for them? Responding to the first part of the question, subsidized senior housing is provided for at both the state and federal levels by housing administrations.

As for the requirements, financial breaks on senior living are realized only for applicants (be they the prospective inhabitants themselves or their family sponsors) whose income is insufficient enough to warrant clemency. As of fiscal year 2009, the income limit is $46,000 for individuals and $53,000 for married couples. Anything above these tallies is grounds for refusal of benefits, pending review by appointed governmental agencies.  

Subsidized senior housing, as with any form of subsidized housing, is low-income residence. It should be noted this does not necessarily equate to the facility being low in quality as well, although the size of each unit in a reduced income complex may be relatively small. Subsidized senior living is a public service, and therefore reflects the moralistic nature of governmental aid.

As hinted at, subsidized senior housing may—or usually will—only cover a portion of rent payments, but if nothing else, the portion of the payer’s income or money saved to be paid every month will be significantly lower. Besides, subsidized senior living spaces grant minor modifications to the premises in light of seniors’ special needs.

Of course, cognisance of the benefits of subsidized senior housing is not worth much unless an elderly person and his or her family can locate a suitable, affordable residence. It may be hard to know where to begin such a search and who to trust upon receipt on receiving tidbits of information.

One useful conduit for details on subsidized senior living and/or subsidized housing for people with disabilities is the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, referred to as HUD for short, allows for visitors to its website to search for affordable apartments across the United States based on state, county, and even individual municipality. 

By evidence of the existence of community services like Meals on Wheels and transportation programs designed especially for seniors, the ability for older adults to receive individualized home health care would seem infinitely possible. Indeed, various home health services exist for the benefit of the elderly so that they may be allowed to live full lives without having to be confined to an expensive facility.

Moreover, this home health care is often more intensive than normal community services, and furthermore, it features trained professionals or at least administrators who are supervised by licensed health professionals. Depending on a person’s needs, he or she may be able to enjoy any confluence of home health services. Below are some examples of home health care:

 One brand of home health services that is fairly commonly used by elders and their families, and is known by a number of different names is that of home health aides. Also called caregivers, homemakers, and personal attendants, home health aides may be charged with any assortment of tasks that are part of daily living but are beyond the abilities of some older adults to manage for themselves.

Among the laundry list of chores that homemakers may be asked to fulfill (apart from laundry itself) are accompanying the individual outside the home, cooking, food shopping, housekeeping, personal grooming, and preparing him or her for bed. Usually, people who accept this kind of home health care will need to pay out of their savings or out of a family member’s pocket, though public benefits (e.g. 

Some home health services, meanwhile, will not be so hands-on, so to speak, but will nonetheless make the home more accessible for elderly individuals, especially in light of some injury or particular physical malady.

Relatively simple home improvements such as elevators, handrails in bathtubs/showers, wheelchair ramps and wider corridors (for the sake of those in chairs and motorized devices) may all be prudent renovations for the sake of the informed senior. As with the aforementioned Meals on Wheels and long-term care, home repair may not jump to mind as a manifestation of home health care, but with all due respect, it may be requested by experience health care providers, notably therapists. 

To boot, some home health services will take special circumstances of their recipients into account. Some paid services, for instance, will provide in-home hospice care for those people who have contracted a terminal illness or other serious condition and need both physical and emotional home health care as a result, as well as grief counseling and other functions for surviving family.

Respite care is also a hallmark of home health services. For the elderly suffering from a debilitating condition such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s and for the sake of family members who need a mental break from the constant care of their relatives, respite care affords them short-term piece of mind, and allows the family in particular the time to complete their own everyday chores.