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Elderly and Special Need Living in a Tiny House

Writer's picture: Cody HarnishCody Harnish


Tiny Houses are often used as independent living units located on the property of friends or family, allowing elderly or special need individuals to maintain independence while being close to help if it is needed. It also provides a more economical solution for those with fixed incomes. More and more municipalities are adopting legislation to allow such structures. The legislation usually will require proof of age or disability. Some municipalities have no restrictions on these structures. Tiny structures on a property that contains another main living structure are considered accessory dwelling units and oftentimes need not follow all minimum square footage requirements. Contact your intended locations zoning department for more information on your locality's regulations.


A main consideration in design for a tiny structure for elderly or disabled individuals is a single story layout without the use of lofts and facilitating ease of access to all storage. For a THOW, it is advantageous to have the front door at the rear in order to allow a fold-down ramp for access to the structure. Wheel chair access can be designed for, and with a custom tiny house solution daily tasks can be specialized to the individuals needs. Since the structure is smaller than a standard house, the custom solution is much cheaper than a standard house designed or retrofitted to an individual's needs.


Maintaining an individual lifestyle while also being near the support of friends and family allows you to live a fulfilling and safe life without being a burden on those closest to you. A 24' long standard trailer allows for enough space for a bathroom, separate bedroom and combination kitchen/living room space, or go larger if a separate seating area is desired. The size could be decreased if the sleeping area can double as the seating area.

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