After Edith Wichser's mother-in-law died, she welcomed her 93-year-old father-in-law Bill last year into the home she shares with her husband, Karl, by turning part of the terrace level into a living area created specially for him.

The Wichsers used the rest of the home as a template for the changes downstairs. They combined the crown molding and other décor details with functionality needed for Bill, who uses a cane and has vision loss from macular degeneration.

Pouya Dianat / AJC (ENLARGE)

Glenda Hall has created a basement in their Cascade Falls Drive home that can accommodate both in-laws and younger kids.

Pouya Dianat / AJC (ENLARGE)

The in-law suite includes an elevator and a special game room for the kids can convert from a hardwood basketball court into a more mature conference room for business meetings.

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"What he wanted was obviously his space, not to be too constrained and having light," Wichser said.

Like the Wichsers, other grown children are creating spaces with aging parents in mind. Their homes now feature amenities like elevators and easy-to-use products like grab bars and no-slip flooring.

Home remodelers have noticed an upswing in requests for in-law suites, with homeowners carving the suites out of basements or additions. Some may be planning for the future; others already may have a parent living with them.

"We're seeing more of that with the aging population and people wanting to stay more independent, but also needing some secondary assistance," said Mark D. Buelow, president of Roswell-based Distinctive Remodeling Solutions. "Not only do the younger people want privacy, but also the parent wants privacy."

One addition he completed totaled about 1,000 square feet. In another, a 500-square-foot space in an existing home was located off a playroom where he created a stairwell to a second floor to give an aging father a bedroom, kitchenette and bathroom.

No matter the size, projects involve issues of accessibility, zoning and recognizing parents' needs. Some groups offer training to home builders, remodelers and others about creating "universal design" for older adults.

"They still want to be independent. They still want their own spaces," said Judy Mozen, president of Roswell-based Handcrafted Homes.

She created a terrace level suite in a home in South Atlanta that included a bedroom and full bath, kitchen, media room/sitting room, laundry room and powder room. The owners did it in anticipation of a parent eventually living there, and in the meantime, the suite is used during visits.

Homeowners need to consider how to create privacy for the child and parent, Mozen said.

"You need your privacy, even though you love them very much, and they need theirs," she said.

But steps need to be taken to keep senior adults from feeling secluded — or hemmed in. One way to solve the dilemma is by creating a separate entry so they can come and go, Mozen said.

In the South Atlanta home she remodeled, other visiting family members have raved about the elevator, which was designed to offer easy access to the main level from the in-law suite.

"The nice thing about that is you can get a way for [older relatives and friends] to get upstairs in your home when you're having your Sunday dinner or your Christmas meal," Mozen said.

The home also has a separate sitting room that allows the parent to have friends, family or a health care worker visit without being in their bedroom, Mozen said.

In addition to considering the older parent, Buelow and Mozen say it's important to think of the investment factor. Buelow's basement projects have ranged from $125,000 to $250,000. Mozen said it could range from $50 to $250 a square foot.

"You don't want to build an apartment complex, so to speak, and make it not as marketable in the future," Buelow said.

The benefit with a basement, he said, is that the space can be used for several purposes, with even a kitchenette that can be used by future residents.

In the Wichsers' home, Buelow referred to guidelines set by the American with Disabilities Act standards. The doorways are built at least 3 feet wide. A low threshold to outside, where Bill can access a patio, helps him avoid falls. Low-pile commercial carpet by Shaw offered ease of mobility and cleaning, she said. Levers were used instead of doorknobs.

In the kitchen, counter top heights were lowered, and an opening underneath the sink left room for a wheelchair, if needed. A walk-in shower, grab bars and slip-resistant tile by Brancacci were installed in the bathroom.

Her father-in-law's biggest request was to have plenty of light, so Wichser used recessed cans instead of chandeliers or decorative ceiling lights, as well as lighter granite to aid with depth perception and neutral paint colors by Sherwin Williams.

The living situation is much different now than during the construction process, when Bill used a guest bedroom and had to make his way to their master bath for showers.

Wichser said she has noticed the difference in giving him his own private space.

"I told him, 'You come up when you want to come up and we'll come check on you,' " she said. "He just looks happier."