Aging, Healthcare and Housing: Can You Find Your Forever Home?
Much has been written about seniors housing, the various options and what each offers. In this post, I am taking a different point of view and looking at some of the factors that influence whether a choice can be your 'forever home'.
Age and Age-Related Changes
Canada is heading toward a 'super-aged' society. By the end of 2025, over 20% - one in five Canadians - will be 65 or older.
Seniors are a diverse population whose lives have been shaped by a variety of experiences and circumstances. For many, healthy aging is a reality, influenced by lifestyle and genetics.
Health Canada defines healthy aging as the lifelong process of maximizing opportunities for maintaining and preserving health, physical and mental well-being, independence and quality of life. Multiple factors influence health aging, including adequate income, education, appropriate housing, satisfying relationships and safe environments
With increasing age, the majority of seniors will experience age-related changes in their health. For some, changes such as glaucoma or high blood pressure can be well managed by medications and do not create much impact on daily living. For others, acute and chronic problems may affect vision, hearing, mobility and flexibility, and energy for the activities of daily living. Some problems require continued nursing/medical care.
Housing and Health
Seniors housing is often the topic of heated discussions - among families, policymakers and older adults. Why the fuss? At its core it is all about choices, dignity and independence, and the recognition that housing cannot be a one-size-fits-all option.
Whatever choice people make, the ultimate goal of choosing the right housing option is to select the one that will maintain or enhance the ability of an aging individual to remain as self-reliant as possible in the face of age-related changes.
Why Learn About Housing Options?
You have likely heard - or maybe you have said - "Seniors housing isn't for me. I am not leaving my house." But life is unpredictable and understanding more about the available options can make you better equipped and be in control if you need to move.
Read this open letter from Cathy Hume, who has 30 years of experience in the housing and healthcare sector for older adults.
Knowledge is power. Your home may the best place for you to live, but life does throw curve balls and you never want to make a major decision when you are ill, or no longer able to stay in your current setting. So, doing some research and looking at options is no different than financial planning, or managing any other aspect of your life.
The best advice I have for anyone thinking about housing options is to realistically look at what your current home setting offers you and ask yourself what think you will need in the future. Ask one central question: "What are the services I need to be well, age with dignity and independence with the right supports in place to meet my future requirements?"
It’s very hard to be honest with yourself. What are your truths? What are the myths or emotional/psychological barriers that might prevent you from this examination? Is it losing independence? Is the potential grief or loss of your home triggering anxiety or sadness? Do you feel there is a stigma to moving and that moving means the start of your decline? All these feelings are perfectly natural but might keep you from making the right choices for yourself. Negative story lines you have created or outdated perceptions will prevent you from finding a setting that will allow you to flourish, in the way that matches who you are.
What I hear about time and time again, is individuals that refuse to consider their current home has become their prison. Their needs have changed and they rely on family, friends, multiple systems and supports to stay in a setting that no long matches their needs. Family is drained and frustrated, the healthcare system is straining to support them, and the focus of their day-to-day life is basically surviving. Families are held hostage in an endless loop of emergencies, hospital visits, sleepless nights and overwhelming feelings of caregiving burnout.
If you find yourself in this 'stuck' position but don’t know what to do there are resources that can be helpful. For example, CARYA has many free and modestly priced services to support you and your family. If you don't know where to begin to learn about housing options, read the Services & Housing Directory from Unison.
Take it slow. Learn about the housing options in your area, and discuss these with a trusted friend or family member. Moving isn't a lot of fun - so make sure you look at options that match your personal goals and personality.
After doing some research, you may find that your current home is indeed the right place for you.
Individuals have more resilience and wisdom than they give themselves credit for. You just might need some help unlocking that power!
With my regards,
Cathy Hume
Housing Options
Let's look at the pros and cons of housing options along with some factors that may affect whether that choice might be your "forever home".
- Stay put - live in your current home
Family Stories
- Downsize - move by 'choice'
Live with family
Find (create) a community
- Move to purpose-built seniors housing
Stay Put - Live in Your Current Home
Age-in-Place
Aging-in-place—remaining in one’s own home and community as one grows older—is a deeply appealing option for many seniors. In this context, "home" might be a single-family dwelling, or an apartment or condo. The comfort of familiar surroundings, maintaining independence, and preserving community ties are powerful advantages. However, this choice also comes with trade-offs. One of the major challenges with the desire to stay put is that we end up with 'old' people living in 'old' houses. Although 90% of Canadians report their desire to stay in their homes, only 50% have made their homes 'age-friendly'. CARP
Homes may not be designed for aging bodies, requiring costly renovations for safety and accessibility.
Another challenge is living alone and the risks of loneliness. Isolation and loneliness are known to harm your physical health as well as increase cognitive decline. Social isolation, lack of nearby support, or difficulty managing household tasks can become growing concerns.
Learn more about CALL. Calgary Association of Lifelong Learners
While aging-in-place promotes autonomy and continuity, it works best when there is a proactive plan for evolving physical, emotional, and logistical needs. The decision requires balancing personal values with realistic assessments of care, community, and home environment.
Of equal importance is accessing healthcare services that are needed with the onset of acute and chronic health problems.
If living in your current home is your preferred choice, there are some questions that you can ask yourself to decide if it is the best option. These questions can also help you determine what services you need now and might need in the future.
Figure 1 Questions to evaluate your current home for aging-in-place.
Cathy Hume. Used with permission
Family stories
The family promised Mom that she would never have to move to a nursing home. Years later when she required 24-hour care, they learned about the challenges of honouring that promise. Public home care provided limited daily care; such as morning and evening assistance for dressing/undressing, weekly bath/shower, and assistance with medication management. This was insufficient so the family sought private care. They applied for Self-Managed Care and set about hiring private personal care givers. Because their mother needed personal but not any professional care in-home, they were fortunate in finding a team of two personal-care aides to provide 24/7 in-home personal care and support. The salaries were approximately $4500/month, plus room & board. For two years public healthcare paid for half of the costs and the family paid for the rest. In the latter months of her life she required more care and the family covered the increase to $5500/month.
Another family had a very different experience to help Dad remain at home. Because he required professional nursing care as well as personal care, their monthly costs were considerable. They paid $20/hour for 24/7 live-in personal care and between $45 and $80/hour for hourly professional nursing visits. The average daily cost was $500. Public healthcare paid for a portion of the personal care (approximately $36,000/year) and the family had the finances to pay for the rest. (approximately $145,000 per year).
Downsize: Move by Choice
Some seniors move by choice. They decide to downsize to a smaller home or to an apartment or condo to simplify daily living. They look to live on one level - to minimize the risks of stairs.
They might find a place that is a Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC). This new place might become their forever home or at least serve them well for many years.
Options for moving to a more supportive environment:
- Live with Family
- Find a Community
Live with Family
According to Statistics Canada, approximately 7% of Canadian seniors live with members of their extended family. This number has been steadily decreasing over the past twenty years.
For some, living with the extended family provides mutual benefit and supportive relationships. For others, it is a compromise at best and a nightmare at its worst.
Some families create options such as an Accessory Apartment or a Laneway House.
Accessory apartment: refers to a self-contained unit within a residential property. It may also be known as the “Granny Flat” or a secondary suite. Accessory apartments offer the advantages of proximity, increased security, and privacy. These apartments are subject to municipal zoning bylaws.
Laneway House - also called a Garage Suite is a detached secondary suite built in the backyard and opening onto the back lane. These are subject to municipal bylaws.
Find (Create) a Community
Co-housing communities and naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs) foster aging-in-place by encouraging neighborly connections and shared resources.
Co-housing type of collaborative housing in which residents participate in planning, design and development; private dwellings are supplemented by common facilities; and it is managed by community governance. Like any private dwelling, residents can have public or private home care if needed. (See Resources for an example in Calgary.)
Charles Durrett, one of the founders of co-housing in the US says:
“You can flourish for the rest of your life if you’re lucky, or at least for about ten years longer than if you live in a conventional, single family home. You can reduce your environmental footprint while improving your quality of life. You can give and receive mutual support to foster interdependence as you age. You can benefit from social interaction that keeps your brain lively and your spirit nourished. And you can experience new opportunities for growth amidst the give and take of community living."
Naturally Occurring Retirement Communities (NORC)
When people age together in community, there’s an opportunity for increased support, connection, and quality of life.
A Naturally Occurring Retirement Community (NORC) isn’t built—it simply happens. It’s a neighbourhood or apartment building where many older adults already live.
The NORC Innovation Centre provides a library of ideas for ways build social networks, improve well-being and safety, create activities for fun and lifelong learning.
Move to Purpose-Built Seniors Housing
Many people misunderstand seniors housing, often imagining it as a one-size-fits-all solution with bingo nights and bland cafeteria food. In reality, seniors housing comes in many forms—from independent living and active adult communities to assisted living and memory care—each tailored to different needs and lifestyles.
Some think moving into seniors housing means losing independence, but for many, it’s the opposite: no more home maintenance, easier access to social activities, and support when it’s needed.
Note: the terminology for seniors housing is not standardized. To help you through the maze of names -- consult the Service & Housing Directory from Unison at Kerby Centre Calgary.
Supportive Housing
CMHC defines supportive housing as:
Supportive housing is housing that provides a physical environment that is specifically designed to be safe, secure, enabling and home-like, with support services such as social services, provision of meals, housekeeping and social and recreational activities, in order to maximize residents’ independence, privacy and dignity.
Some supportive housing options are intentionally designed to support aging-in-place by combining independent living with built-in flexibility and support services. Some communities offer “life lease” or “continuing care” models, where residents can remain in the same location while accessing increasing levels of support—from housekeeping and meal services to personal care and nursing assistance. These housing models aim to reduce the need for disruptive moves by adapting as needs change, allowing older adults to age with dignity, safety, and a strong sense of home.
Personal or private care home is a privately operated residential home that provides board and personal support. The operator may live in the same home or hire staff that is onsite 24 hours/day. These homes usually house up to six individuals under the same roof. The emphasis is on normal daily living rather than healthcare. As with other housing options, whether the individual can remain when health needs change varies among the homes
Independent Living refers congregate housing that provides private suites with various types of support for daily living, such as meal and laundry service, but without personal care or medical support.
Senior citizen lodge or seniors’ self-contained housing refers to publicly-funded lodges that provide accommodation, meals, housekeeping, and social activities. Most provinces provide an affordable option for low-income seniors. The costs and eligibility criteria differ between the provinces and even among the different lodges
Assisted Living
Assisted living refers to non-medical residential settings that provide housing, food service, personal care services, and watchful oversight to elders and other persons with physical and mental disabilities. Assisted living emerged during the 1990’s in response to the demographic trends of an aging population and the desire for alternatives to nursing home care.
Assisted living provides both accommodation and personal care. The philosophy is to provide residents with choice, autonomy, privacy, independence, dignity, and respect in an environment that is as home-like and non-restrictive as possible. The ultimate goal is to maintain or enhance the ability of frail elderly people to remain as independent as possible in a home-like environment.
These residences combine housing, meals, and supportive services such as housekeeping and recreational activities. Most offer transportation for shopping and recreational outings. They also provide personal care assistance, such as bathing and dressing, and assistance with routine medications.
Note that assistance with taking medications does not include the costs for any medicines. All medications must be paid for by the resident through insurance or personal costs.
There is considerable variation in the services, philosophy, and staffing.
Alberta Health Services provides “
designated supportive living” in which the resident pays the accommodation charges, and the health authority pays for the personal care and support services. This program is based on an assessment of needs.
Remember that Independent Living and Assisted Living are not interchangeable. You can have public or private home care in an Independent living residence - but cannot expect to have care or assistance 24/hr.
Although you can use a the Assisted Living Checklist (Resources) to evaluate a residence, when all is said and done, two factors are most likely to determine your choice; namely, cost and location.
Looking for Your Forever Home: Move by "Necessity"
As mentioned earlier, some seniors prefer to move by 'choice'. For others the idea of moving is too challenging to even think about. They prefer to deal with the situation only when it becomes an absolute 'necessity.'
Others move by 'necessity' after a significant change such as a fall or onset of progressive illness. Cathy Hume shared this advice:
"How are you negotiating your current setting and what are the barriers and bonuses of where you live now? For example: if you are continuously falling within your own home, moving into a smaller setting without any health supports won’t cure your problem. You still will be in the same circumstance, just in a new location and exhausted from the move. Your next move might be a setting whereby you are independent but there are supports nearby to assist you should you fall – staff onsite."
Summary
To bring home my message, housing is more than a building. Housing should provide choice, autonomy, privacy, independence, dignity and respect in an environment that is safe and suits you and your needs. Because home is also personal to each of us.
The expression "luck is preparation meeting opportunity" could be reworded when thinking about seniors housing to "luck is preparation meeting the unpredictable future."
Be informed. Learning about seniors housing isn't about moving - it's about knowing.
Be proactive and check out housing options available in your community – then you might find your "forever home."
Chronic or long-term care: public and private facilities that provide professional support (nursing, medical, and therapeutic care) twenty-four hours a day. These facilities are not included because they are not housing -- they are primarily nursing/medical care centres.
Return to Assisted Living
Author
Maureen Osis
Maureen retired from her career -- first as a Gerontological Nurse and then a Marriage/Family Therapist in private practice working with mid-life and older adults. Maureen has published numerous articles and books, related to her professions. She is a member of CALL because she is passionate about learning. She is a volunteer with CALL, doing social media and the primary author of the blog, because she likes to face new challenges.
During her career Maureen was involved in planning initiatives for supportive housing with the Calgary Regional Health Authority.
Guest
Cathy Hume
With a senior living career spanning over 30 years, Cathy has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to creating positive experiences within the housing and healthcare sector for older adults. Beginning as a recreation therapist, and advancing to leadership roles, Cathy’s volunteer efforts have been transformative. She challenges stereotypes of aging, champions innovation, and has spearheaded impactful initiatives, fundraising events, skills development conferences, and award programs for honouring volunteers in the community. As a senior herself now, Cathy is even more focused on ageism and breaking down the myths of aging.
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resources
Co-housing in Calgary
Prairie Sky Cohousing
31st Avenue Northeast & Edmonton Trail, Calgary, AB
Publications
Assisted Living Checklist
Your Checklist Staying Home
Return
The best resources for information about seniors housing in Alberta are printed annually by Unison for Generations 50+ (formerly Kerby Centre) in Calgary and SAGE in Edmonton.
Seniors Service & Housing Directory. Unison, Calgary
Directory of Senior Services. SAGE, Edmonton
References
A list of references on aging, healthcare and housing is provided. Download the pdf.
Learn more about CALL.
Check out the Interest Groups available to CALL members.
Learn more about membership in CALL.
Questions/Feedback. Please contact us
info@calgarylifelonglearners.ca
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