First sale of MedCottage
The interior of the 12-by-24 foot MedCottage as shown in May 2011. (File photo by Eric Brady / The Roanoke Times)
A Northern Virginia family will be the first to use a medical modular home designed by a Salem company.
It’s the first sale of MedCottage, which was designed and developed by N2Care with the help of the Virginia Tech College of Engineering.
Next week the 12-by-24-foot prefabricated home will be installed in the yard of an Alexandria family, said Chris Cummins, executive vice president with the distributor MedCare Systems that made the sale.
N2Care CEO Ken Dupin said that so far three MedCottages have been ordered by distributors looking to sell them as those involved continue to hone the marketing and distribution strategies.
That includes putting stipulations on who can distribute the homes, which are priced at $85,000.
Instead of relying on the real estate industry, or marketing directly to potential occupants, N2Care has sought to become a part of the health care industry.
“Now, in order to be a distributor, you have to have a health care connection,” Dupin said.
That includes businesses involved with nursing homes, hospitals, home health and assisted living.
MedCare Systems, in Mechanicsville, is connected to an assisted living chain that operates 10 facilities in the Richmond area.
Adding MedCottage allows the company to better meet the needs of all people looking for appropriate living situations as they age, Cummins said.
“I don’t think it is going to hurt the assisted living industry and it will enhance the home health industry,” Cummins said.
May 4, 2012 - 10:57 AM
Lets see now. A building that can be built and furnished for less than $35,000 by any contractor. Does any body realisticly think there would be a demand for these things.
DW
@DW You raise a good point about the price and it’s one that the distributors and company have talked about a little. My understanding is the additional cost is because the MedCottage is designed with technology and amenities aimed at the health and safety. For instance the floor is one that can absorb 40 percent of the impact from a fall and there are embedded sensors that alert caregivers of a fall and remotely monitor and control other aspects of the home.