New Milton Advertiser 22nd Jan 2021
Friday 22nd January 2021 · 25
news@adt.press · advertising@adt.press · 01425 613384
It might be a great solution but building an annex is a big decision. Lisa Salmon (who had one built for her mum) discusses the granny flat boom. Thanks to rising property pric- es and expensive care home fees, a growing number of families are opting to live with, or right next to older relatives, by building granny flats on their homes. The latest figures from the Valu- ation Office Agency show there are now nearly 39,000 granny annexes in England and Wales alone – an in- crease of 16% in recent years. The government has tried to encourage families to live togeth- er by discounting council tax and scrapping stamp duty increases
Bold and innovative new independent living arrangements should be encouraged and
made easier to implement and a ord.
Celebrating 35 Years Supplying Mobility Scooters Powered Wheelchairs and Disability Equipment
There’s no doubt, building a granny flat has worked for us. But what about other families? Caroline Abrahams, charity di- rector at Age UK (ageuk.org.uk), thinks granny flats are a “great solution” for elderly living – al- though clearly they’re not some- thing that can be rushed into. “This type of accommodation is one of a range of housing options open to older people who want to maintain their independence for longer in a smaller, easier-to-man- age home, with around-the-clock family support when needed. It’s a great solution, but needs agree- ment and understanding on living arrangements and expectations,” says Abrahams. “Bold and innovative new in- dependent living arrangements should be encouraged and made easier to implement and afford. When so many older people are finding it increasingly difficult to get the support they want when they need it, alternative living ar- rangements for older people such as this play an important role in re- ducing the overwhelming demand on not only health and social care services but on housing too, and will ensure good health and well- being for longer.” Thinking of building a granny flat? Here’s nine points that might help… 1. Bridge before care While it may not be possible for an elderly person to avoid go- ing into a care home eventually, a granny annex can offer a useful bridge between independence and The National Federation of Builders (NFB) says an annex oc- cupied by an elderly or disabled family member has a 100% council tax discount. 3. Shared bills Depending on how it’s built and your preferences, bills may be shared between the family home and the granny flat, potentially saving money (assuming granny or grand-dad doesn’t have the heat- ing on all the time). 4. Do it sooner not later Moving can be very stressful for anyone, but especially for an older person. A decision to build a gran- ny flat needs to be made sooner rather than later – ie. before an el- derly relative is in desperate need of an accommodation change, and while they’re still reasonably mo- bile if possible. Look on it as an in- vestment for the future. 5. Choose builders carefully A new build can also be very stressful, so choose your builders carefully. The NFB’s Find a Build- er (builders.org.uk/find-a-builder) helps people contact reputable builders who’ve been strictly vet- ted and have undergone a range of reference checks. 6. Plan for future needs Think carefully not just about the elderly person’s needs now, but what they may be in the future. If your granny annex is two storeys, do the bedroom and toilet need to be downstairs in case mobility be- comes an issue in later years? 7. Communication is key Honest and detailed discussions are crucial, both with the build- er before construction about the budget, timescale and exactly what you and the elderly relative want, and with your relative about how bills will be paid (if they’re shared), who’s responsible for the garden if it’s shared, whether you eat to- gether, whether you knock before entering each other’s homes, etc. 8. Get legal advice It’s important to discuss, and get legal advice if necessary, what hap- pens if either the younger family or the older relative wants to sell up and move to a different property but the others don’t want to sell. 9. Be prepared for relationship breakdowns It may also be worth seeing a solicitor to discuss what happens if there’s a relationship breakdown, as one of the family homeowners may demand their share of the property in divorce proceedings. What happens to the granny flat occupant then? the provision of care. 2. No council tax
scooter & powerchair specialist
Covering Dorset & Hampshire Since 1985
New Milton 01425 621211 or Wimborne 01202 884200 www.batricarmobility.co.uk
on annexes, and ministers have stressed the benefits of inter-gen- erational families, which help save the NHS and social care system a lot of money. But if you’ve got an elderly rel- ative, is constructing a granny flat on your home the right option for you and them? It was certainly the right choice for our family. Around three years ago, my widowed mother Sheila, now 81, and my husband and I de- cided we should build a granny flat for her on the side of our house. So she sold her house about 40 miles
from us, and we applied for plan- ning permission to build a two-sto- rey annex. It was a huge decision for us and my mum, who was leaving the house she’d lived in for more than 50 years, as well as her friends and neighbours, to live in a new city where she only knew us. But the alternative was that, as she got older and became less mobile, she could be lonely – and there’d be no one to help her if she fell, for example, or became ill. It was already becoming increasingly difficult for her to keep up with the
cleaning and maintenance of her three-bedroom detached home too. Her moving to live, not with us, but next to us, was clearly the best option – particularly as she’d always been vehemently opposed to moving into a residential home should the need arise. My mum’s now lived in the an- nex for around two years, and while the process wasn’t always easy (the build was stressful, to say the least!) and my mum un- derstandably still misses her old life and home, we have no regrets. My mum lives completely inde- pendently in her self-contained one-bedroom flat on the side of our house, still regularly drives over to her old golf clubs 40 miles away, and is (gradually) forging a new life here. The few times she’s been ill since she moved, I’ve gone in an ambu- lance with her to hospital, made meals for her and carried them in, and regularly checked on her. When she lived so far away, that would have been impossible. And, of course, she sees our family – in- cluding two young grandchildren – all the time.
Choice of wheelchair /mobility scooter accessible vehicles, from £3995
New Forest Disability free disability related information and advice for anyone across the New Forest
New Forest Disability
Our showroom is currently closed, however all of our vehicles have an HD Video walkaround on our website: www.newtonsofashley.com Contactless, Free sanitised delivery usually possible. 01425 621722 Ashley Cross, NewMilton BH25 5AQ All cars come with a new 12 month MOT – Minimum 6 month warranty. PX welcome.
Welfare benefit and Blue Badge applications,new and lightly used mobility equipment and daily living aids, advice on living at home safely. Please phone to see what we have to offer. Helpline 01425 628750 info@newforestdis.org.uk | www.newforestdis.org.uk Head Office. 6 Osborne Rd, New Milton, BH25 6AD
Bluebird Care
We offer the following services House Refurbishment • Carpentry
Find out more today!
Home and Live - in Care Services
Extensions • Kitchens and Bathrooms Conversions • Painting and Decorating Fully Insured
Care in the comfort of your own home We offer different care services such as Respite Care, End of life Care, Dementia Care. From 30 minutes home care support to 24 hour Live - in Care provisions.
07703 235135 info@ifit-homes.co.uk www.ifit-homes.co.uk
Bluebird Care Totton 02382 026 500 totton@bluebirdcare.co.uk
Bluebird Care New Forest 01590 678 340 newforest@bluebirdcare.co.uk
Wide range of Hyundai available on
ARE YOU AFRAID OF SLIPPING? Do you nd getting in and out of the bath a struggle?
At Coastal we are experts at designing bathrooms that are adapted to suit you. Our aim is to make your bathroom a safer place and a stress free experience.
ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR GOVERNMENT VAT RELIEF ON YOUR BATHROOM PRODUCTS INCLUDING TILES AND FITTING? With added discount, You could save up to 30% off the total cost! DON’T PUT OFF CHANGING YOUR BATHROOM ANY LONGER Our showroom is closed, so please telephone us, or visit our website and we can work together to make beautiful but practical solutions to your bathing needs.
This type of accommodation is one of a range of housing options open to older people who want to maintain their independence for longer
Hyundai motability offers give people with disabilities a worry free and affordable way to lease a car in exchange for their mobility allowance.
www.coastalbathrooms.co.uk | 01425 620866
Everton Garage Limited Old Christchurch Road, Everton, Lymington, Hampshire. SO41 0JJ. 01590 642235 | www.hyundai.co.uk/dealer/everton-garage-lymington
147-151 Old Milton Road, New Milton, BH25 6DS
Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs