Written by Jennifer Yeung
What happens when retirement comes earlier than expected?
For many individuals recovering from a motor vehicle accident, a fall or a fractured hip, returning to their previous work may no longer be an option. As a result, some individuals may be forced into retirement earlier than anticipated.
This transition can feel sudden and overwhelming, often requiring significant physical, cognitive, emotional, and lifestyle adjustments.
For individuals living with the long-term effects of an injury, planning for the future involves more than financial considerations. It also requires considering where and how a person will live.
As individuals age, their homes may no longer support their needs in the same way they once did, and environmental barriers may contribute to increased falls, reduced independence, and difficulty participating in meaningful daily activities.
At present, more than 1 in 8 Canadians are approaching retirement, as Canada’s population continues to age [1].
At the same time, following the COVID-19 pandemic, the desire to age in place is becoming increasingly common, with over 85% of adults preferring to remain in their homes as they age [2].
Addressing environmental barriers in advance as part of retirement planning is crucial to support safety, independence, and participation in meaningful activities following injury and into retirement [3]. Early planning can also prevent unexpected financial challenges in the future and facilitate discussions with family members about future needs, before it is too late.
Occupational therapists/Certified Life care Planners play an important role in supporting this transition. They facilitate discussions regarding future planning, asking the proper questions to identify potential environmental and functional challenges. They also encourage conversations with spouses and children about future preferences, living arrangements, and care needs, and support collaborative decision making.
OTs and Certified Life care Planners consider diagnoses that can affect future complications. They assess how individuals function within their home environment and conduct functional in-home assessments to identify barriers that may impact safety, independence, and participation in daily activities, now and in the future [3].
They may recommend adaptive equipment, mobility devices, assistive technology, or larger home modifications, such as stair lifts or modifications to the bathroom or house entrance, depending on individual needs [3].
Occupational therapists/Certified Life care Planners can support planning for future changes in function and care, including discussions around downsizing, relocating, considering care facilities, proximity to supports, and adapting spaces within the home to support meaningful hobbies and leisure activities.
Planning for the future extends beyond physical accessibility. When injury leads to an earlier-than-expected retirement, individuals may experience changes in routines, habits, and social roles. Many struggle with reduced activity levels, social isolation, loss of routine, and uncertainty about how to spend their time after leaving the workforce.
Occupational therapy support may focus on preserving important aspects of life disrupted following injury, exploring new or past hobbies, developing new roles and routines that promote purpose and structure, and rebuilding or maintaining social connections and community participation.
For example, occupational therapists/Certified Life care Planners may facilitate staying connected to valued aspects of their previous work through mentoring, volunteering, or pursuing activities that draw on similar skills and interests.
Occupational therapists play an important role in supporting legal teams with long-term planning following an injury. An occupational therapy/Certified Life care Planner assessment provides insight into a client’s real-world functioning and can help legal professionals better understand how a client’s injury-related impairments may influence their future care needs.
At GLA Rehab, our healthcare providers, specifically our OTs/Certified Life care Planners, can assist clients with planning for the future and recommending appropriate supports that promote safety and independence.
We understand the importance of aging in place while maintaining dignity, quality of life, and participation in meaningful activities.
Our goal is to support you in building and maintaining the highest possible level of independence throughout all stages of life.
This can be part of estate planning, as well as settling an MVA or a slip and fall claim.
References
[1] Government of Canada. (2024, September 3). Retirement? Mortgage balance, interest rates, higher consumer prices among factors to consider. Statistics Canada. https://www.statcan.gc.ca/o1/en/plus/6905-retirement-mortgage-balance-interest-rates-higher-consumer-prices-among-factors-consider
[2] Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT). (2024). Aging in place. CAOT. https://caot.ca/site/adv-news/advocacy/aginginplace
[3] The Home Accessibility Therapist. (2026, May 13). Retirement planning needs more than money: Why home modification OTs belong at the table. https://thehomeaccessibilitytherapist.blog/2026/05/13/retirement-planning-needs-more-than-money-why-home-modification-ots-belong-at-the-table/