Retirement is around the corner for many in Canada today, with a quarter of the demographic falling into the senior category by 2030. While so much of the population is hitting this milestone, their housing options may differ from what they once envisioned. Downsizing to a smaller home or condo is much more expensive than a decade ago, and options are limited. Retirement homes are becoming more expensive, and long-term care homes have become less desirable as stories of neglect and loneliness emerged during the pandemic.
In this issue, we look at emerging trends for supporting senior living.
Age in place
According to a November 2023 study by the CMHC, seniors who can afford to stay in their original homes choose to age in place as long as their health allows. Many communities provide more support for seniors in their original homes through activities, check-in services, and health care support. The City of Hamilton now provides several community services for aging adults (55+), all outlined in their fully downloadable and printable Older Adult Guide available online.
The goal of these services is to support seniors as they enjoy their retirement years while maintaining their original homes for as long as possible, including options such as food
delivery, yard work assistance, house cleaning, and in-home care options.
Co-housing
While much of Canada copes with housing challenges, alternative living arrangements are becoming
available to seniors. Co-housing is a structured community where each resident has a home but shares amenities. Some are retrofitted buildings, apartments or townhomes, and while most are not age- restricted, they have a senior focus.
The Canadian Co-housing Network (CCN) is a non-profit organization with 49 communities across Canada, either built or under construction. Hamilton is one of the communities actively looking for land to build 15 to 30 units by 2025. The CCN also aims to create homes with a smaller carbon footprint by using environmentally friendly building choices and designs with sustainability in mind.
Naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs)
A NORC is a community or geographic area where many older adults reside and strive to bring services to a building or neighbourhood. The University Health Network (UHN) in Toronto researched how home care could be streamlined and publicly funded for NORCs, reducing travel time for many personal support workers (PSWs) by bringing them to several clients simultaneously in the same area.
In Hamilton, the El Mirador apartment building is supported by Oasis Senior Supportive Living. This NORC emphasizes physical fitness and healthy living programming. A dedicated team at the UHN is mapping potential sites to expand their reach and offer more housing options for seniors as the population of this demographic grows.
Co-living
Since home prices soared during COVID-19, so did the level of creativity families developed for sharing accommodations and affording a home. While we have seen multi-generational living grow, we also witnessed the emergence of co-living: seniors choosing to buy a home together and share expenses. This phenomenon is more common for older women who have become widowed, divorced or have grown children, and they prefer the company of friends to living alone. With Ontario zoning laws now allowing up to three separate residential units per property, this option is more accessible to those with the equity to pool resources.
While the age-in-place movement has grown, long-term care homes will remain necessary for those facing mobility and severe health challenges. As the population ages, the healthcare system will need to adapt. Those in good health want more choices of how and where they live, with services in place to support them.
By: JULIE ACHTERMEIER
