What is an ECHO?
An elder cottage housing opportunity, or ECHO, is a small, temporary housing unit that can be installed in a backyard -- most commonly used to accommodate older adults.
ECHO housing units are self-contained prefab homes (usually between 400 and 800 square feet) that allow someone to remain largely independent while still living within earshot of your family. ECHO housing usually includes includes all the amenities of a house -- a kitchen, a bedroom, a bathroom, and a living room -- albeit on a very small scale. They first gained popularity in Australia, where they're known as granny flats, in the 1970s. ECHO housing caught on in the United States in the late 1980s and has since been promoted by AARP as an inexpensive housing solution for older adults.
Great invention. It's another selection available at a time in life when options are limited.
Are there any government grants or monies to help with building or remodeling to provide home/shelter for disabled parent?
We found out how a backyard cottage could be part of an aging in place when we designed one for a client that allowed him to care for his aging mother and for her to be a bigger part of his family. Increasingly, backyard cottages, unlike ECHO, are not temporary trailers but are traditionally built homes that may incorporate universal design features and monitoring to facilitate elder living. Enlightened cities like Seattle, Portland and Vancouver, BC allow backyard cottages to be built in residential zones with some restrictions. We are happy to continue designing backyard cottages because we think they offer a valuable option for multi-generational living.
good information.
A few months ago three of us decided to start a business to help families with housing for aging family members. We named our company Sidekick Homes and we can be found at www.sidekickhomes.com. Unknowingly we were providing Echo Housing. Our services include literally everything from an expression of need by a family to welcoming the person into their new place of residence close to the family. Essentially we are a concierge service who will take care of all the details of design, construction and installation of the new home in the garden. Mike
This is a very intriguing idea. Years ago we tried to get my husband's parents to move to our city to be closer to us and our children. But we hadn't thought of building them a small house in our backyard. What a great way to provide for your parents but still be independent - for both sides