Boomers Bought Up the Big Homes. Now They're Not Budging.

[Hekate]

82. Your relative may want to invest in a second kitchen for harmony's sake, but beware of the codes...

In my old neighborhood one couple brought his parents to live with them, but first they built an add-on (there was room in their backyard to make the house an L-shape) . The biggest problem was the County codes regarding granny units, and the sticking point was the kitchen.

My friend is a very stubborn woman. She and the guy at the counter in the appropriate department went around and around while he tried to make her understand (without using the words) that if she started calling it a recreation room she could get 98% of the job done and approved if she would just start calling it a rec room. Then when the inspectors were gone she could have the stove installed. It took her forever to get the message that he was giving her a wink and a nod.

It was a beautiful add-on when they were done. The shower is a roll-in style, everything, and because the whole thing was designed and built from scratch it doesn't look like so many places where an older resident keeps adding improvised bits on as they age.