This tiny home for senior citizens ‘new movement’ includes elderly people who’d rather live in a tiny home than stay in a senior citizen assisted living facility.
For the last couple of years, the tiny house movement has been rapidly gaining popularity. More and more individuals are opting to live in smaller spaces.
One of them is Adele Smith, a retired music teacher who used to live alone in Nashville. Ever since her daughter moved out, she has been the sole resident at her 1,300-square-foot townhouse, and she says she felt like she was just rattling around.
“I had my little corner of the living room where I’d watch TV, and I’d use the bathroom and my bedroom and the kitchen. And I’m like, I’m just storing crap in this house. I’m not even using this stuff,” she told TODAY Home.
So the senior decided to make a change. After doing a lot of research, she learned that tiny home living will fit her preferred lifestyle.
She left her townhouse and moved into a 140-square-foot bungalow where she could stay closer to family.
Even if her new abode is just a tenth the size of her former one, Adele says that she is as “snug as a bug in a rug” in it.
Everything she needed was there – a bedroom, a living area, a kitchen, and a bathroom – and it is surely so much better than living in a senior citizen assisted living facility.
“It fits me to a T,” Adele said. “I am really very content.”
Tiny homes usually measure less than 400 square feet, that’s why they are a great option for retirees who want to downsize after their children leave the nest.
Plus, there are major financial advantages to tiny home living. Mortgages can be downsized or even paid off completely. Utility bills are decreased significantly since a smaller home requires less heat and furnishings.
Tiny house owners also tend to spend less money and time in making home improvements because there is less need for repairs and maintenance.
The mobility that living in a tiny home provides also allows seniors to live closer to their families. However, it’s important to note that a house can’t be parked anywhere.
There are cities that have a rule about mandatory utilities, while others prohibit the parking of tiny houses in backyards.
For Dani Moore, a senior who lives in a 206-square-foot house in Hesperia, California, moved into a tiny house for her daughter’s sake.
Dani remembers how hard it was for her back then to move her own mother into a senior citizen assisted living facility. She says that she didn’t want her daughter to experience the same.
“It was a nightmare,” Dani said. “And after that, I thought, you know, I so do not want my daughter to ever have to go through this.”
Since more elderly people are beginning to take an interest in tiny house living, businesses began catering to the demand.
Companies such as Tiny Home Builders designed a micro homes with senior customers in mind. The “Tiny Retirement” model seen above is single-level, so the owner wouldn’t have to climb up the stairs or ladder to get into a lofted bed.
Tiny living isn’t for everyone. But for those who believe that they could manage a downsized lifestyle, then joining the tiny house movement is definitely worth a try.
Watch the video below and learn more about tiny homes for senior citizens. Video courtesy of Tiny House Giant Journey.