These 4 homeowners built tiny homes in their yards to be better caregivers for their loved ones

Lena Koropey and her mother. Courtesy of Lena Koropey Seeking more space, some homeowners are building accessory dwelling units in their yards. Some use them for rental income, while others use them to keep loved ones who need care close by. Business Insider spoke to 4 families who built ADUs for their loved ones about the experience. Lena Koropey's mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease nearly a decade ago. Since then, she's watched her once-independent mother come to rely on others for nearly every part of daily life. "It's definitely getting harder each year," Koropey, 48, told Business Insider. Six years ago, Koropey bought a three-bedroom home in Mattituck, on Long Island's North Fork, where she lives with her mother and a live-in caregiver.