It may seem counter-intuitive to be a REALTOR® , and have a page about aging in place.
It really isn’t! Not everyone should move. As a matter of fact, according to various surveys, the majority of seniors would prefer to age in place, and health wise, it is also good for you. Here is a brief about Healthy Aging in Canada from the Public Heath Agency of Canada
This is because you will remain in an area where you probably have friends and family near by. Your Doctors, stores, and other services you use are also most likely close to where you live. So, as long as you are able to live safely in your home, there is no need to move, unless you want to and are ready to.
The key here is “safely” There are many services and companies that can assist you to remain in your home. However, not all companies are qualified to provide certain services, for example, home modifications. Please do your homework and make sure if a company quotes you on providing renovations to make your home safe, that they have the knowledge and experience to do the modifications correctly.
Putting up a grab bar is not as straightforward as it may seem! I have been in homes where the contractor put the grab bar up using wall anchors. This is so unsafe! They cannot support you if you fall. Another modification I have seen done incorrectly many times, are ramps to access the home. These to have specific requirements to ensure that they have the correct angle, so you can get up the ramp safely. They also have to support the weight and accommodate the type of mobility device that is being used.
The bottom line, this is a personal decision that you and your family need to make. This isn’t something a should be telling you needs to happen. They should not be convincing you, why you should do it. If you are well enough, have the resources, and are happy in your home, why move before you are ready!
Here are two links to information and a checklist to help you consider all things to be considered. Place your cursor over the buttons below and click to go to the links.
As I mentioned, there are many services and resources available to you and your family. I have included some below, as well as a link to more services.
If you have any questions, or you are looking for a specific service, please fill out the form below and I will get back to you.