Written by Janet Helm, Realtor® and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®)
My 99-year-old dad has taken thoughtful, proactive steps to age in place in the family home I grew up in. Unfortunately, I meet many older adults who share the same desire, but aren’t asking for help or making the changes needed to do it timely or safely. Often, their homes are no longer suited to their needs, and without support — whether it's yard work, home maintenance, medication management, or access to healthy meals — they’re not truly aging in place successfully. Aging in place isn’t the right fit for everyone, and it requires planning, flexibility, and ongoing support. Based on my experience with my dad and the many clients I’ve worked with, I’m sharing a few practical tips and guiding principles that can help make aging in place successfully!
Start early. Don’t wait until a crisis forces difficult decisions.
Plan proactively. Use a checklist like the Canada one as your roadmap. Click here for checklist
Be realistic about support. Even the safest home needs people.
Stay flexible. As needs change, so will your strategies. Have a Plan B. What are other options?
Involve trusted people. Family, neighbours, professionals — you don’t have to go it alone.
Before deciding, it helps to think through some key areas:
1. Safety & Home Modifications
To live safely at home, certain modifications can make all the difference. Consider:
Having grab bars professionally installed near the toilet, shower, or bathtub.
Ensuring lighting is ample, especially in stairwells, hallways, and entrances. Add nightlights in hallways and other rooms.
Removing area rugs or loose carpets that could cause trips.
Add banisters on both sides of staircases.
Widening doorways, if mobility devices (walkers, wheelchairs) become necessary.
Having non-slip flooring, clear paths to and from your entrances and minimizing clutter.
Avoid stepping on stools, and or ladders - reaching for items. That lightbulb can be changed by a neighbour.
2. Supports for Daily Life
Aging successfully in place is easier when you have support around you. Do you have people ready to help, are just a phone call away? Building a support network or pay for services, aging in place becomes easier for you. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until help is needed! Ask for help sooner.
Yard work & property maintenance: Ensuring your home is well maintained is important. Do you have regular support for roof and gutter cleaning, snow removal, lawn and garden care, other maintenance around the home?
Transportation: Is your home accessable to alternate transportation (public transit, ride services, volunteer drivers)
Deliveries and errands: Does your home fall within an area where grocery or prescription or meal delivery services are available?
Home services: Will you have regular help set up, for house cleaning, or in-home personal care when needed?
Will you rely on private or public funded services. Do you know who to call to get quotes and find out the process?
What it costs. Have you crunched the numbers for in home care, plus the extra supports you may need?
Staying socially connected is important. Is your home in a location where you can still easily visit friends, have them come over, and stay involved in your community—attending a senior centre for workshops and activities?
Your Personal Checklist
The Government of Canada offers a 9‑part checklist to help people determine their readiness in areas like health, home, transportation, safety, supports, community, finance, and relationships. Go through each section, respond “yes/no” to statements, and see where your strengths and gaps are. If you end up marking “no” or “needs improvement” in certain areas, those become places to focus — whether you make changes now, plan for the future, or explore alternatives.
Seeing my dad continue to live in the home he loves, surrounded by supports and love, is a gift. But it’s not magic — it’s planning, adjustments, and a community around him.
Looking for Guidance?
If you’re thinking about aging in place, wondering whether to stay or move, or simply not sure where to start, ask HELM! I’m happy to steer you in the right direction and share trusted resources to help you or a loved one thrive at home — safely, confidently, and comfortably. With a plan in place, you’ll have options, clarity, and peace of mind.
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