Tiny House Next Door Helps a Daughter Cut Dementia-Care Costs

Facing rising assisted-living bills that were draining her mother’s savings, Lori Bufka in Arizona moved her 88-year-old mother with dementia into a 700-square-foot trailer next door, creating a cost-effective, near-home long‑term care arrangement. The setup costs about $500 a month in rent plus modest utilities, with caregiving shared with her partner. Tech like JubileeTV, Blink cameras, smart plugs, and Google Live Transcribe helps monitor and assist remotely, allowing her to keep her mom at home with safer conditions and far lower expenses than traditional facilities (at least for now, with hospice visits as needed).