Did you know that one in five Canadian households lives in housing that is unaffordable? (Statistics Canada, 2024). According to Statistics Canada (2024), Canadians facing housing challenges report a significantly lower quality of life compared to those without challenges. 

As the housing crisis grows, healthcare organizations need to step up to take action. That’s why we’re committed to promoting housing that supports older adults.

We’re pleased to share insights from Building with Mission, our collaborative project with the Catholic Health Alliance of Canada, Covenant Care, Cahdco, and the Catholic Health Sponsors of Ontario.

Here are three elements you need to consider to help you build projects that enable older adults to thrive:

1. Age-Friendly Built Environment
2. Non-Built Environment
3. Financial Environment

Element 1: The Age-Friendly Built Environment

The success of a housing project is deeply tied to its ability to address local gaps and integrate into the surrounding community. The location of homes must be strategic, as accessibility to services and support systems are key to enhancing quality of life. As well, the built environment should be designed to adapt to changing needs, while creating spaces that foster a sense of community.

Example: Pocket Neighbourhoods
Pocket neighbourhoods are a cluster of small homes around shared open spaces. This encourages neighbourly interactions and a sense of belonging. At 235 Glen Ave. in Brandon, Manitoba, a pocket neighbourhood has successfully supported residents by providing affordability, environmental sustainability, and enhanced connectivity. This thoughtful approach to location and design has demonstrated significant benefits for older adults (CBC, 2024).

Pocket neighbourhood in Brandon, Manitoba (CBC, 2024)

Element 2: Supportive Non-Built Environment

Building community connections through shared interests and companionship boosts health and resilience, especially in tough times. Creating housing for older adults with strong support systems is essential.

Home sharing is where individuals share living spaces with homeowners, offering both companionship and affordability. In some arrangements, younger adults, like students, live with older adults, providing minimal support in exchange for reduced rent. In others, groups of friends may choose to live together, sharing expenses and communal spaces.

Example: Canada HomeShare
Canada HomeShare helps older adults who are homeowners share their homes with students and other older adults. This creates a mutually beneficial housing solution that provides both parties with more affordable living environments, while promoting companionship and household support

Canada HomeShare (Canada HomeShare, 2024)

Element 3: Affordable Financial Environment

To create housing that truly supports older adults, options must meet a wide range of affordability needs, especially for middle- and lower-income seniors. Affordable, age-friendly housing requires smart, cost-effective design and construction. However, it is important to keep in mind that feasibility and long-term savings should be carefully evaluated for each project.

Example: Prefabricated Housing
Prefabricated housing is manufactured off-site in a factory, in standardized sections that can be easily shipped and assembled on-site. This method offers advantages over traditional forms of construction, including faster completion timelines and reduced susceptibility to weather delays or site constraints. According to the Modular Building Institute, these accelerated construction timelines help both lower the cost to build and the cost to buy (Modular Building Institute, 2022).

Tune in to episode 15 of The Future Age Podcast to learn about the benefits of using prefabricated construction when designing small care homes.

Modular house being constructed in Ontario (Ontario, 2024)

Interested in learning more? Check out the Building With Mission Playbook and Periodic Table of Housing Models for Older Adults