THE ROANOKE REGION OF VIRGINIA

A Salem company has introduced a new way to care for loved ones – and it’s generating interest from around the world.

N2Care’s MedCottage is a portable, modular medical home designed to make it possible for families to take care of loved ones on their property as an alternative to long-term care facilities.

Shortly after the MedCottage was unveiled in the Roanoke, Virginia Region, the company received national media coverage, leading to thousands of inquiries from people looking for an alternative model for healthcare as 78 million baby boomers prepare for their senior years.

The 12-by-24-foot MedCottage is loaded with technology and amenities for the health, comfort and safety of the elderly or those recovering from illness or injury.

“The MedCottage model for healthcare offers a totally new paradigm,” says the Rev. Kenneth Dupin, founder and CEO of N2Care and the innovator behind the MedCottage. “With a daunting reality looming, we must, as a society, consider every option to take pressure off the system. The MedCottage is such a cost-effective alternative – and baby boomers are ready for new options for aging in place.”

The MedCottage can be purchased or leased and temporarily placed on the caregiving family’s property. Like an RV, it connects to a single-family house's electrical and water supplies.

It’s already authorized for use in Virginia and is designed to comply with local zoning ordinances throughout the nation. Earlier this year, Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell signed into law HB 1307, “Zoning Provisions for Temporary Family Healthcare Structures.”

The Virginia-made MedCottage is equipped with the latest technology to monitor vital signs, filter the air for contaminants and communicate with the outside world via high-tech video and cell phone text technology. Sensors alert caregivers to an occupant's fall, and a computer can remind the occupant to take medications. The technology also provides entertainment, offering a selection of music, reading material and movies.