Ageing in Place in Canada, thinking about your community and getting around

 Thinking about your community

The type of community you live in can also impact your ability to live independently.

Age-friendly communities encourage seniors and other residents to stay active and engaged, and make it easy to do so with features such as well-maintained sidewalks and benches, accessible buildings, and good public transportation.

Age-friendly communities also provide seniors with access to essential supports and services such as shopping, health care providers and recreational activities. Many communities in British Columbia have a designation as “Age-Friendly” but that designation must be taken with a grain of salt. Many communities that claim to be age-friendly are only partially so. Here are some questions to ask about your community or any community that claims to be “age-friendly.”

•                    How age-friendly is my community?

•                    What supports and services are there in my community to meet my needs and help me maintain my independence as I age?

•                    Do I need to consider moving to a community with more services?

•                    Am I close to the support and services that I need now and may need in the future?

•                    What assistance may I be eligible for from governments or helping agencies?

Getting around

Being able to get to appointments, shopping and recreational activities is an important part of being as independent as possible. For many people, this involves driving.

Planning for independence includes thinking about what to do when you are ready to, or must, retire from driving.

Many people outlive the ability to drive safely due to medical conditions that are more common as they age. It is important to consider how you will get around if you are no longer able to drive. It is also important to start thinking about other transportation options available in your community such as public transit, taxis, low-cost transportation services, Uber or Lyft, or family and friends.

Share your views on ageism with the government of Canada through an online questionnaire  This link will open a new tab in your browser. The questionnaire is a chance for you to provide your point of view anonymously. It should take 20 to 30 minutes to complete(External link)

(External link)

.        As I age, can I get to the services that I need and the activities that I enjoy?

•        Am I aware of my medical conditions that could impact my ability to drive?

•         Am I aware of the signs that suggest I may need to consider retiring from driving? Do I know where to go to test my driving ability?

•        If I am no longer able to drive, do I have access to reliable and affordable alternatives in my community?

•        Will the cost of alternative transportation be more or less than owning my own vehicle? 

Ageing in Place in Canada, thinking about your home

 Ageing in place means having the health and social supports and services you need to live safely and independently in your home or your community for as long as you wish and are able.

Planning can help you achieve this goal

The earlier you start planning, the more prepared you will be to respond to changes that may occur as you age such as changes in your health, mobility or social connections.

To successfully plan ahead, you need to start thinking about how you want to live as you age and what steps you need to take to achieve that lifestyle. When planning, you should also consider the unexpected. This includes planning for what you would do if you had a sudden onset of a chronic illness, developed a disability or had a change in resources.

Making choices now will give you greater control over your independence, quality of life and dignity. Over the next few posts I will review some things you should consider when planning to age in place:

Thinking about your home

A key step in planning for independence is assessing your home to determine if it can meet your changing needs as you age.

Depending on your situation, you may want to think about making changes to your home to help you as you age and to help delay the need for a future move. For example, you may choose to widen doorways in your home to allow access by a walker or wheelchair, or install a chairlift or elevator.

If you decide that your home no longer meets your needs or that you can no longer live safely and independently in your home, learn about the options available in your community. These may include moving into a more accessible or smaller home, or exploring seniors’ housing options such as assisted living or long-term care. Be aware that different housing options may have different eligibility rules. Here are some questions to consider if you are plan on staying at your home:

•                    If I want to live in my current home as I age, what modifications could help me remain safe? (e.g., installing hand rails, a ramp, emergency response systems, etc.)

•                    How will I maintain my home if I need help? Are there services available in my community? Do I have the money to pay for the services if I need them?

•                    Do I need to move to a more manageable home or consider a home without stairs?

What are my housing options if my current home no longer suits my needs? What will be the costs?

Ageing in Place on your terms

Ageing in place means having access to services and the health and social supports you need to live safely and independently in your home or your community for as long as you wish or are able. If you are a near senior or senior who is thinking about ageing in place and would like to know more about what you may need to do to prepare for your later years, this booklet is for you.

Thinking about the future and being prepared will help you to make the most of your later years and have more control over your decisions. Planning will give you the best chance to have a satisfying and positive experience as you age and will help you to age in place.

The Federal government create a booklet that includes a checklist to help you review your plan, if you have one, and to help you think about what you can do now to improve your life as you age. It is based on the experiences of people like you, who have shared their thoughts about planning and preparing for their older years. You can download this booklet by going online: publicentre.esdc.gc.ca

The booklet  is available on demand in multiple formats (large print, Braille, audio cassette, audio CD, e-text diskette, e-text CD, or DAISY), by contacting

1 800 O-Canada (1-800-622-6232). If you use a teletypewriter (TTY), call 1-800-926-9105.

Thinking about what you would like your life to be like in 10, 15 or 20 years, and what you might be able to do now to give you more control over future changes, will help you to maintain your health and independence for as long as possible. Having a plan to age in place could prevent you from having to make hasty decisions in the future, especially when dealing with change resulting from a crisis.

Managing and Protecting Assets, Tips from the Federal Government of Canada

Have a financial plan in place.

Prepare a budget that sets out your income, benefits and living expenses.

Understand your insurance needs.

Take precautions to avoid scams and fraud.

Do not give anyone your bank card or PIN.

If you need to write down your PIN, keep that information in a safe place at home and separate from your cards. Do not carry it with you.

Make a back-up plan in case you are away or unable to look after your own financial affairs for any reason.

Use direct deposits and automatic bill payments.

If you open a joint bank account with anyone, understand that the other person may be able to withdraw all of the money; when you die, the money may become theirs and may not be counted as part of your estate.

Get independent advice when transferring major assets or before taking out a loan, such as a mortgage of any kind.

Before signing any contracts (e.g., Getting work done on your house), check with your provincial or territorial consumer affairs ministry or department