Atlantic Seniors Housing Research Alliance

Donald Shiner, PhD

Presentation to Ministerial Meeting 28 June 2011

1. Housing Design

Safe, accessible, lifetime housing for seniors

St. John, NBSource: van Horn and van Loon, Celebrate Canada 2010

Seniors want to ‘age in place’(93%)(Expectations of seniors cannot presently be met with existing approach to services and programs)

Many seniors live in rural areas (An overemphasis on urban housing services would be an incorrect use of resources)

2. Supports

Availability of home supports

Marysville, NBSource: van Horn and van Loon, Celebrate Canada

2010

Seniors place a great deal of value on social supports (Mental and emotional health is just as important as physical. Sources of social support include family, friends and neighbors.)

Greatest source of support is from family.

Seniors appear willing to pay for a wide range of support services.

The more strenuous the task the more willing seniors are to seek help.

3. Choices

Most seniors prefer seniors-only housing (An overemphasis on mixed/inter-generational communities would be an incorrect use of resources)

Rural areas lack safe, affordable alternatives

Seniors are not aware of alternative approaches to housingPort aux Basques, NL

Source: van Horn and van Loon, Celebrate Canada 2010

4. Transportation

Availability of transportation when and where needed

5. Transitions

Supports for housing transition planning Majority of seniors

report having good health, despite high prevalence of diabetes and arthritis (Seniors are resilient and develop coping strategies in order to remain at home)

Only 12.6% have made plans for a future move

6. Affordability

Majority of seniors have home repair needs (particularly for energy efficiency) (Seniors need newer, easier to maintain dwellings, or assistance to maintain present ones.)

1 in 5 seniors spend 40% + on where they live (almost half have an income less than $30,000) Our seniors are experiencing a huge housing affordability problem.

7. Vulnerability

Housing needs of seniors who are vulnerable or socially excludedI have limited income ...and with the way that the rents are going up all the time, I don’t know, I may be living in a cardboard box.

--focus group participant

Affordable housing designed for aging in place is urgently needed

8. Community

The potential for community capacity-building

Highland Seniors’ Club, Middle River, NS Source: van Horn and van Loon, Celebrate Canada 2010

Most seniors do not participate in local community programs (Either most seniors like or are forced to stay close to home, they are not aware of these programs, or the programs are not adequate )

The seniors that volunteer regularly are very active (Many seniors like to be involved in their community and in helping others)

9. Tomorrow

Most seniors are not aware of the programs and services available to them (Seniors are missing out on available assistance to help rehabilitate, repair or restore their dwellings)

Most seniors are not thinking about alternatives to staying in their own home (Seniors are not prepared for unexpected life changes in the future)

Six Big Ideas

1. A program of education aimed at both those now over 70 and those under 70. The goal would be to make both groups aware that

they have to take responsibility now when they are well and able to prepare for future living in their homes when they will not be as healthy

2. A Home Accessibility Tax Credit (HATC) for eligible home accessibility expenditures for work performed, or equipment installed. The temporary credit will provide an immediate

incentive for Canadians to undertake new renovations or accelerate planned projects.

Six Big Ideas

3. A home accessibility audit program much like the energy efficiency programs of the past. These audits would provide the homeowner with the

knowledge of what is needed and what is possible within their current home.

4. A commitment to provide much of the acute care currently given to seniors in acute care facilities (hospitals) today, in the homes of tomorrow’s seniors. If we could move 25% of acute care services to the

home, by 2020, Canada would be much better positioned to support the age wave

Six Big Ideas

5. A tax rebate program designed to encourage aging in place. One approach would be an escalating tax rebate,

starting at say, $500 at age 75, and growing by $200 a year for every year the senior remains in their own home.

6. Changing the building code by 2016, so that the 16 standards of the Lifetime Homes Standards are compulsory. Homes could be certified by inspectors drawn from

the senior population.

Thank You

www.ashra.caDonald.shiner@msvu.cawww.msvu.ca/ashrawww.shinerconsulting.cahttp://www.jrht.org.uk/New+projects/Lifetim

e+Homes/