Written by Emma Pimentel
Most older Canadians want the same thing: to stay in their own home for as long as they can. What far fewer of them have is a plan for how.
Staying in your home is about continuing to do the things that matter to you, with the people you enjoy doing them with. Whether that is cooking for your family, keeping up with the garden or hosting at your own table, staying engaged in those activities is associated with better health and wellbeing [1].
Adapting a home may be needed to preserve that life.
Nearly half of older Canadians say their home suits them now, but may not meet their future needs. And yet, 62% have made no modifications or plans at all to prepare [2].
The problem is not that people cannot see it coming. But this is not the same as knowing what to change, or when.
Most homes are designed for an able-bodied adult in midlife — and then remain largely unchanged as the person living in them ages and their needs evolve. As a result, a home may feel perfectly safe and functional for years, until suddenly, something that was never a concern becomes a barrier or a risk.
Federal guidance recommends planning ahead of a sudden illness, a new disability or a change in resources, rather than in response to one. The earlier you begin planning, the better prepared you will be for the changes that may come.
When you have time to consider your options, you are more likely to make thoughtful decisions that reflect what matters most to you. Planning ahead gives you greater control over your independence, your home and your quality of life [3].
A key step in planning is assessing your home to determine whether it can meet your changing needs as you age [3].
The steps people take are often focused on finances or product base. First, you have to be mindful of the need to put money aside and install a few safety features in the home [2].
Research shows that home modifications can reduce falls by a quarter overall and considerably more for people already at high risk [4].
In contrast, equipment supplied on its own has not demonstrated the same impact [4].
The approach involves a thorough assessment of the home including the following:
- ➢ Involving the older person in setting the priorities [4].
- ➢ Identifying hazards in the home and the person’s own risk and abilities
- ➢ Learning about the person’s medical history and potential future complications
- ➢ Assessing the person’s functional status including mobility, strength, range of motion, vision, balance and ability to manage daily activities at home
- ➢ Create a list of recommendations for home accessibility solutions
- ➢ Communicate with a contractor of choice to ensure proper understanding of the modifications needed
- ➢ Following up afterwards to support the changes made
This is precisely what an Occupational Therapist does.
Occupational therapists (OTs) are regulated health professionals who assist people to adapt to changes in their abilities and environment, so they can continue doing activities that matter to them — from cooking to self-care to moving safely around their home [5].
In an OT home assessment, that means considering the person and the environment together. This allows recommendations to be tailored to the individual, rather than based on generic assumptions about what someone of a particular age may need.
An OT home assessment can be a proactive planning and preventative tool to identify potential risks and opportunities before they become problems.
If larger changes are worth making, there are funding options available in Ontario.
When planned in advance, those adaptations can delay the need for a future move [3].
At GLA Rehab, our Occupational Therapists assess clients within their own homes, and identify what matters most to each person to maintain safety and independently. They make recommendations for future accessibility and safety tailored to individual lifestyle, health and possible future needs.
If you have found yourself wondering whether your home will still suit you in ten years, that question on its own is usually reason enough to have an OT take a look.
References
[1] Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists. (2019, August). Position statement: Aging in place https://caot.in1touch.org/uploaded/web/Advocacy/PS_Aging%20In%20Place_2019.pdf
[2] National Institute on Ageing. (2026, January 22). Perspectives on growing older in Canada: The 2025 NIA ageing in Canada survey. https://niageing.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/January-22-2026_Perspective-on-Growing-Older-in-Canada-The-2025-NIA-Ageing-in-Canada-Survey_Report.pdf
[3] Employment and Social Development Canada. (2025, May 7). Thinking about aging in place. https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/corporate/seniors-forum-federal-provincial-territorial/aging.html
[4] Clemson, L., Stark, S., Pighills, A. C., Fairhall, N. J., Lamb, S. E., Ali, J., & Sherrington, C. (2023). Environmental interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2023(3), CD013258. https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD013258.pub2/full
[5] College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario. (n.d.). Home modifications help seniors age in place. https://www.coto.org/resources/home-modifications-help-seniors-age-in-place