Planning for family · Manatee & Sarasota
A home of their own.
Family close by.
Planning an ADU for an aging parent starts with a conversation about how they want to live. Their morning coffee, favorite chair, friends, and quiet time belong in the plan just as much as the kitchen and bedroom.
For Eric and David, multigenerational living means making room for connection and independence. A shared dinner can be a short walk away, with a front door of your own to come home to.
What would make
this feel like home?
Invite your parent into the decisions from the beginning. Ask what they love about their current home, what feels harder than it used to, and what they would want to keep in a smaller space.
- Do they enjoy cooking, gardening, hosting friends, or having the grandkids over?
- Which belongings and pieces of furniture need a place?
- How much togetherness feels right, and when do they want privacy?
- What help would they welcome, and what do they prefer to do themselves?
Plan the whole
journey home.
Trace the route from parking to the entrance, then from the cottage to family dinner. Discuss a step-free entrance, a sheltered landing, and space to move comfortably with groceries or a mobility aid. Plan the route alongside the home’s floor level and site conditions.
Inside, allow clear paths around furniture and through doorways. Place everyday storage within comfortable reach and consider easy-to-use door handles.
For room-by-room ideas, see the AARP HomeFit Guide (PDF).
Give the bathroom
extra thought.
Talk through space beside the toilet, room to enter the shower, seating, and support bars. Plan appropriate wall backing for supports and choose flooring with wet conditions in mind.
A main-level bedroom near the bathroom can simplify the layout. For specific mobility needs, involve an occupational therapist and the design team so clearances, fixtures, and supports fit the person who will use them.
The AARP HomeFit Guide offers additional bedroom and bathroom planning ideas.
Make daily routines
easier to navigate.
Consider lighting along outdoor paths, at entrances, and between the bedroom and bathroom. Keep walking routes free of clutter and loose rugs. Revisit the setup as needs change; a home that works today may need adjustments later.
More guidance: National Institute on Aging: growing older at home.
Walk through a typical day together before choosing the layout. Where will laundry happen? Where will a visitor sit? Where will your parent read, watch television, or call a friend? Those answers help make the plan personal.
Two households.
A shared understanding.
Talk about visits, shared meals, parking, guests, outdoor space, and how you’ll check in with each other. Agree on which expenses are shared and which each household will handle.
Think ahead to changing routines or visiting help. An ADU can bring family nearby, while support and care arrangements remain a separate conversation.
The next step is matching those priorities to the property and budget. Our Manatee and Sarasota ADU zoning guide explains where to start, and our ADU budget guide covers the costs to discuss.
Tell us who you’re
making room for.
Bring your property location, your parent’s priorities, and the questions your family is working through. You don’t need finished plans to start a conversation with Eric and David.
Let’s make room for what matters.
Tell Eric and David who the home is for, where you’d like to build, and what matters most. Early ideas are welcome—you don’t need finished plans.
941-241-7660
Text us your project idea
eric@deforestcustomhomes.com
What happens after you send this?
We’ll review your ideas and follow up using the contact details you provide. Our first conversation is about your family, your property, and whether the project is a good fit.
Before any paid planning or design work begins, we’ll discuss its scope and fee with you.
See the steps from idea to construction ↗Prefer to talk? Call or text. Please do not send sensitive financial or identity documents.