Keep Mom
and Dad close
Their own home, steps from your door.
Free lot check · no obligation · HCD-approved plans #1585366
The decision every family faces
Three ways to care for aging parents — side by side
Three in four adults over 50 want to stay in their home and community as they age (AARP, 2024). Here is how the usual options compare.
Assisted living: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, median for San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara ($8,450 in SF–Oakland, $7,000 statewide). An ADU is a home, not a care facility — if your parent needs daily medical care, in-home caregivers can visit them there.
What it actually feels like
A day in their new life
Close enough for Sunday dinners and quick check-ins. Far enough for everyone to keep their own rhythm.
Coffee on their own deck
Morning sun, their own routine. No tiptoeing around a busy family kitchen.
The grandkids run over
Thirty seconds across the yard — for homework help, cookies or a story.
Quiet time, their way
A nap, a show, a call with friends. Their door closes — and so does yours.
Dinner together, then home
Family dinner in the big house, then a short walk home. Close, never crowded.
That’s the balance a backyard home is built for — and why more than half of Bay Area ADUs house family (ABAG, 2025).
Safe today, ready for tomorrow
Designed for aging in place
Every model is easy to live in at any age. Need more? Add our accessibility features and plan the layout around your parents' needs.
No stairs inside. Bedroom, bath, kitchen and laundry on one floor.
Everything they need for an independent day, under their own roof.
Insulation beyond California Title 24, all-electric, ENERGY STAR appliances.
Large windows and an 8′2″ ceiling keep it bright and easy to see in.
Built for every stage of life
- Step-free entry
- Roll-in curbless shower
- Grab bars throughout
- Fold-down shower seat
- Roll-under sink
- Wide doorways
- Lever door handles
Tell us about mobility, a walker or wheelchair, or a live-in caregiver — we'll recommend a model and options and include them in your fixed price.
adults 65+ falls every year — falls are the leading cause of injury at that age. The CDC recommends grab bars by the shower and toilet, built in from day one here.Source: CDC, 2026
Our picks for parents
Which model fits your parents?
All-in prices — design, permits, foundation, delivery, installation and utility hook-ups included.
1 Bedroom ADU
480 sq ft · separate bedroom · 96 sq ft covered deck
A real bedroom door, a living room for visitors and a deck for morning coffee. No school or impact fees under 500 sq ft.
Large Studio ADU
320 sq ft · open studio · 64 sq ft deck
Compact and easy to keep up — full kitchen, laundry and bath, nothing they don't need.
2 Bedroom ADU
640 sq ft · 2 bedrooms · 128 sq ft deck
Room for both parents plus a caregiver, a hobby room or overnight family.
Ask for your exact price for your lot. Accessible options are quoted in the same fixed price.
The numbers
Less than two years of assisted living. A home for decades.
Cost over 3 years, San Jose area
Assisted living: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara median. ADU price before the launch discount; your price depends on your lot. Not a like-for-like care comparison — assisted living includes meals and staff.
And it keeps working for your family
- Only the ADU is added to your property taxYour house keeps its current Prop 13 value (Rev. & Tax. Code §71).
- Later, it can earn rentWhen it's no longer needed for family, it can become a rental, an office — or the place you downsize into.
- Ways to payMany families use home equity; some use money from selling the parents' house. Take our 60-second financing quiz.
Honest answers
What families worry about — answered
“Will the city even allow it?”
Yes, in most cases. California law requires cities to approve or deny a complete ADU application within 60 days, ministerially — no public hearing, no neighbor vote. We handle the permits.
“Will we lose our privacy?”
No. It's a separate home with its own entrance, kitchen and bathroom. You share a yard, not a hallway.
“Will Mom feel like a burden?”
That's the point of her own front door: she's a neighbor, not a guest in your house. Her home, her rules.
“What if they need more care later?”
In-home caregivers can visit, and the 2 Bedroom has room for a live-in caregiver. Accessible features can be included from the start.
“How messy is construction?”
Most of it happens in our Lathrop factory. On site: foundation and utilities first, then the home is installed in about a week.
“What happens to it later?”
It stays a legal, permitted home on your property — rent it out, use it as an office, or move into it yourself.
Questions about an ADU for parents
More in our FAQ, or call (209) 214-6845.
Can my parents live in an ADU on my property?
Yes. An ADU is a legal, separate home on your lot. Family members can live there, and California doesn't let cities require you to live on the property to have one.
Which ADU is best for elderly parents?
For most families, a single-level 1 Bedroom (480 sq ft) with a separate bedroom and a covered deck. For one parent, the 320 sq ft Large Studio; for a couple with a caregiver, the 2 Bedroom.
Can you make it wheelchair accessible?
Yes. Our Accessible ADU option adds step-free entry, a roll-in curbless shower, grab bars, a fold-down shower seat, a roll-under sink, wide doorways and lever handles.
How long until my parents can move in?
Typically 4–6 months from signing — permits, foundation, factory build and installation. The home itself is installed in about a week.
Is an ADU cheaper than assisted living?
Over time, usually. Assisted living in the San Jose area has a median cost of $10,495 a month (CareScout 2025), while a 1 Bedroom ADU is a one-time $214,900 all-in. Assisted living includes meals and staff, so needs differ.
Will building an ADU raise my property taxes?
Only the value of the new ADU is added. Your main house is not reassessed and keeps its Prop 13 base value.
Are there fees for a small ADU?
California bans impact fees on ADUs of 750 sq ft or less. School districts may charge fees above 500 sq ft.
What happens to the ADU later?
It stays a permitted home on your property. You can rent it out, use it as an office or guest house, or live in it yourself.
Free · no obligation
Give them independence. Keep them close.
Tell us about your parents and your yard. We'll check your lot and send a fixed all-in price for the right model — accessibility options included.
HCD-approved plans (#1585366) · 2-year warranty · factory in Lathrop, CA
- 1Free call & lot checkTell us about your parents and your yard
- 2Pick the model & optionsAccessibility included in one fixed price
- 3Move-in in 4–6 monthsWe handle permits, build and install
Sources: CareScout Cost of Care Survey 2025 (medians, San Jose–Sunnyvale–Santa Clara, SF–Oakland–Fremont, California); AARP 2024 Home and Community Preferences Survey; ABAG 2025 ADU Homeowner Survey (self-selected respondents); CDC Older Adult Falls (2026); California Gov. Code §§66315, 66317, 66311.5 (HCD ADU Handbook, 2026); Rev. & Tax. Code §71. An ADU is not a licensed care facility. Photos are illustrative. General information, not legal, tax or medical advice. Updated October 2026.