Chapter 12: Living Arrangements of Older Adults

Describe the current living arrangements of older adults in Canada.

The majority of older adults in Canada live in private dwellings (houses, apartments, condos), with only a small minority living in collective dwellings (seniors’ residences, nursing homes, chronic care facilities).

Identify factors affecting the living arrangements of older adults.

Factors affecting the living arrangements of older adults include marital status, age, and gender.

Identify policies and programs that facilitate home ownership for older adults.

• Home Buyer’s Plan: Allows eligible individuals to withdraw from RRSPs to buy a home.

• Reverse Mortgages: Lets homeowners borrow against home equity without paying it back until they sell/move.

• Veterans Independence Program: Provides financial assistance and support services to help veterans stay in their home longer.

Explain what it means to “age in place.”

To age in place means being able to live in your own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, and having the supports you need to stay there for as long as you want.

Describe how successful adaptation to aging is explained by the competence-environmental press model.

The competence-environmental press model explains successful adaptation to aging by proposing that successful adaptation occurs when an older adult’s competence (capacities, abilities) matches the environmental press (the demands of the environment).

Identify top reasons retired Canadians move out of their home.

1. Health changes meaning a different type of residence (most common reason).

2. Downsizing because they don’t need so much space.

3. Death of their partner.

4. Downsizing to free up some equity in their home for other things.

5. Can’t afford to live in their home anymore.

6. Wanting to move closer to family.

7. Wanting to downsize so that their family will move out.

8. Never, they plan to stay forever.

Provide examples of home adaptations that facilitate aging in place.

Home adaptations that facilitate aging in place include improved lighting, installation of handrails, grab bars, and ramps, reachable cupboards, storage, and door handles, and removing carpets or throw rugs to prevent falls.

Explain the role of technology to support aging in place.

Technology, specifically gerontechnology, plays an important role in supporting aging in place through both traditional technologies (hearing aids, assistive listening devices, vision aids) which have long helped older adults, and newer “smart” technologies (sensors, GPS, Bluetooth), which help older adults live longer and healthier lives as fully engaged members of society.

Identify characteristics of age-friendly communities.

• Outdoor areas and public buildings are pleasant, safe and accessible.

• Housing is affordable, safe and well designed for older adults.

• Roads and walkways are accessible and kept in good shape.

• Public transportation is affordable and accessible neighbourhoods are safe.

• Relationships are respectful.

• Health and community support services are available.

• Opportunities for older adults to be socially active exist.

• Older adults can take part in volunteer, political and employment positions.

• Information is easy to find and easy to understand.

Identify independent living options available for older adults.

• Co-housing: Sharing a home with a friend or family member. 

• Co-operative Housing (Co-ops): Provides housing in return for a share in maintenance or other tasks.

• Life Lease Housing: Paying upfront to live in a home run by religious or charitable organizations. 

• Supportive Housing: Offers housing with support services included (meals, housekeeping, activities).

• Retirement Communities: Combines independent living with access to support/recreational facilities. 

• Retirement Homes: Private residences that offer a range of accommodations, services, and healthcare.

• Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities: Like retirement homes but geared towards seniors with more demanding care needs.

• Garden Suites: A small, self-contained housing unit installed in the backyard of a lot with a single-family home.

Identify programs that facilitate independent living for older adults.

Adult day programs, home care, home instead

Describe the purpose of long-term care (LTC) and the population it is designed to serve.

The purpose of LTC is not to cure but to improve quality of life for the older adult population, specifically those aged 65+ with chronic and often irreversible illness or disability who need help with ADLs.

Describe quality of life in LTC facilities based on resident reports.

Ratings on quality of life from a sample of LTC residents show mixed results: residents report positives such as having privacy during visits and being treated with respect, but negatives include not getting favourite food, not being able to bathe/shower when they want, and not having a close friend. The lowest-rated area was affection or romance.

Describe new models of care for older adults.

New models of care for older adults include green-care farms or “care farming,” which combine agricultural activities with care services, and the Hogeweyk, the world’s first “dementia village.”