Renovating for aging in place

Start with light and floors

Better lighting is the cheapest change with the biggest effect. Brighten stairs, hallways, entrances and the path to the bathroom, and add night lights. Then look at the floors: loose rugs, thresholds and slippery surfaces cause more falls than most dramatic hazards.

Then the bathroom

Bathrooms are where accessibility work matters most. Well-placed grab bars, a non-slip surface, a shower with a low or no threshold and a seat can make the difference between independent and dependent. A higher toilet and a hand-held shower head are simple upgrades.

Grab bars need to be fixed into structure, not just the tile, so have them installed properly.

Think about the entrance and the main floor

Look at how you get in: steps, a handrail, a level threshold, lighting and a place to put down your shopping. Then look at the main floor. If a bedroom and a full bathroom are on the level you use most, stairs stop being a daily question.

Lever handles instead of round knobs, doorways wide enough for a walker or wheelchair, and switches and outlets at comfortable heights are all worth building into any renovation you were planning anyway.

Ask for an assessment

An occupational therapist can visit your home and recommend changes that suit you rather than a generic list. Some provinces and health authorities offer home assessments, and there are federal and provincial tax credits and grants for accessibility work. Eligibility and amounts change, so check the current details on Canada.ca and with your province.

Do not overbuild

Renovate for the next ten years, not the worst case. It is better to do the changes that help now and leave room to add others later than to turn a comfortable home into one that feels like a care facility. Choose contractors with references, get more than one quote, and keep the receipts for any credit you may claim.