New communities of living

 

Aging in place at home depends on having a supportive community designed and built to help us be mobile, access the services we need, visit those we want to see and do the things we enjoy.

Aging in place models

While Canadians realize that they may need higher levels of care as they age, they would like to stay in a place they experience as home. There are many types of aging in place models to challenge Canada’s current dependence on institutional approaches. The National Institute of Ageing provides a framework to help understand the various types of housing and home living models to support older adults as they transition from healthy with greater independence to situations where they need more care.

Healthy with minimal care needs

Healthy older adults enter into co-living agreements that allow them to stay in their homes or live together with peers in arrangements that provide support, companionship and a sense of community.

Moderate complex care needs

Older adults with moderately complex care needs co-locate, connect or create housing networks that provide volunteer help, professional supports and practical services that allow them to stay in a home within their community.

Advanced complex care needs

Older adults with complex care issues and needs maintain a sense of home and belonging with small groups living together in residences designed specifically to create neighbourhoods within the care community.

Multigenerational housing is the fastest growing type of living arrangement in Canada. In 2016, almost three per cent of households in Canada had at least three generations of the same family under one roof. In addition, an increasing number of adult children are continuing to live at home. Nearly 1.9 million people in Canada, or nine per cent of the adult population aged 25 to 64, were living with one or more of their parents in 2017.

 

Would homesharing work for you?

Arrangements to share one’s home can be self-initiated or happen organically — often with an intergenerational aspect of students or younger adults supporting elders. This can also be agency sponsored, whereby organizations buy or build a home and recruit participants, or agency assisted to facilitate the homesharing process for homeowners.

Canada HomeShare , an intergenerational housing program, aims to reduce social isolation by providing students with an affordable and flexible off-campus housing experience in the homes of older adults. Currently operating in four cities across Canada, there are plans to expand to other major centres.

Homesharing sometimes involves individuals closer in age moving in together and forming a partnership in aging — with formal agreements outlining expectations, shared costs and responsibilities and other household policies. These models offer benefits such as affordability, autonomy and a built-in network of support.

 
 

Designing the future

A look at research into aging in place models across the world over the past 15 years has shown the importance of four key themes: 

  1. Social connection

    The housing models and built environments provided an increased sense of community and social connectedness as well as opportunities to socialize. Shared spaces, participation in social activities and communal programming (e.g., day trips, coffee time and group meals) increased older adults’ levels of engagement and connection with others in their community.  

  2. Health and well-being

    Older adults reported that features such as parks, gardens, pools and safe spaces improved their overall quality of life and general satisfaction with their lives.

  3. Sense of self and autonomy

    Housing models with secure built features and living environments with available support seemed to enhance older adults’ sense of self and autonomy.

  4. Participation

    Easily accessible programs that catered to older adults’ interests and needs held within the community increased levels of participation and social connectedness.

  • What helps?

    • Affordability with cost savings for all involved relates to sharing expenses or supporting needs such as childcare or transportation. Models with many participants also benefit from economies of scale and bulk buying.

    • Access to support means varying degrees of assistance depending on the level of need — from daily living tasks such as grocery shopping to community support and care from certified staff if needed.

  • What hinders?

    • Access to models is an issue since these models are not readily available, well known or sufficiently implemented in Canada.

    • Isolation can still be an issue, especially when older adults remain in their individual apartments, have mobility challenges or don’t have access to volunteer supports.

    • Difficulty adjusting can be a problem since housing can involve moving to a new location or shared living with decreased privacy and control as well as new interpersonal relationships.

Food for thought

  1. What does “home” mean to you? As you age, what aspect of your idea of “home” is most important for you to maintain?

  2. What change is needed to support these models in our densely populated cities with high housing costs? And in our smaller, rural communities?

  3. What can we learn from traditions and cultures that include multigenerational living and how can we better support and encourage this model in our communities?

  4. Following the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic, how can our care facilities and congregate living centres support a shift to aging in place and healthy living in community?

Additional resources

The Path Forward for Aging in Canada discussion paper

Download