palliative-care-2018-posters-abstracts

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Journal of Palliative Care & Medicine | ISSN: 2165-7386 | Volume 8

August 27-28, 2018 | Boston, USA

International Conference on

Palliative Care, Medicine and Hospice Nursing

Granny Pods: Cost-effectiveness and health benefits of nextdoor housing approach – pilot

Alla Lozovan Kazi

Taipei City Hospital, Taiwan

Specific Aims:

With an aging baby boomer generation, the Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) are considered alternatives to expensive

long-term care facilities that help to keep aging middle-class seniors close to families. The ADU also was known as “Granny Pods” or

“Med Cottages” are portable high-tech dwellings that can be installed in a family's backyard and can be the temporary solution for

taking care of elderly family members in need of special care. Granny Pods are specially built with the safety of a senior in mind. They

include a small kitchen, bedroom, and a bathroom that is handicap accessible with railing and safety features built in. All utilities and

electricity are connected to the primary residence. Recent studies show that loneliness is a significant factor in the decline of quality

of life in older adults, including a risk of depression, cognitive impairment and health problems like coronary artery disease, and

even increased the risk for an earlier death. Granny Pods homes enable maturing guardians to remain nearby to their youngsters and

grandkids for care and friendship while keeping up security and freedom for all relatives. Over the past few decades, municipalities

across the country have adopted standards to allow or encourage the construction of ADUs. The information about regulations by

state and city can be found on the Accessory Dwellings website. NextDoor Housing is the sole company selling such Granny Pods

in Minnesota. Units typically sell for about $45,000 or can be rented. The bill S.F. 2555 (“Granny Pods”) was passed in Minnesota

during 2016 session in an attempt to allow accessible/non-permanent types of housing to be used for family members in need of

various medical cares. Cities everywhere rejected the law without giving their citizens an opportunity to try this alternative housing.

Therefore, at this time, granny pods cannot be sustained as a temporary housing or rental fleet, because of the current city ordinances.

This research will employ mixed methods. Specifically, the lead researcher will conduct key informant interviews with city officials

and surveys of older adults and their families before and after the intervention. The second part is to run the pilot, to rent out 5-10

units to interested families for 12-18 months, and conduct cost-effectiveness analysis.

There are three specific aims for the study:

Aim # 1:

To analyze the cost-effectiveness of the Granny Pods program and determine its economic impact. Hypothesis 1 is that

these small transferrable houses are less expensive housing options compare to long-term care facilities and living close by the family

will possibly reduce the need for home care services and long-term care that, in turn, could save public dollars and families’ savings.

Aim # 2:

To examine the quality of life of the Granny Pods tenants. Hypothesis 2 is that Granny Pods housing will improve quality of

life of older adults with an assumption that living near to their families will have a positive effect on health by reducing stress, anxiety

and therefore, improve depressed mood associated with relocation and separation from the families.

Aim # 3:

To evaluate if the increased quality of life of the Granny Pods tenants will be associated with health benefits. Hypothesis 3

is that improved quality of life will be associated with a reduction in the incidence of acute vascular events, such as stroke and heart

attack, will improve chronic disease conditions such as obesity, depression, diabetes, cancer, hypertension, and hence reduce direct

medical costs, increase quality-adjusted life-years and, eventually, prolong life.

The ultimate goal of this study is to bring more evidence to the state legislature and city officials giving them an opportunity to

understand better the potential benefits of this program. This information hopefully will help to revise the “Granny Pods” law, to

break bureaucratic barriers, and hence to implement the program in Minnesota and statewide.

J Palliat Care Med 2018, Volume 8

DOI: 10.4172/2165-7386-C3-021