[Report] Innovative Housing Models for Diverse Older Adults in Canada

The objective of this report under the Supportive Housing for a Diverse Seniors’ Population priority is to provide a better understanding of the housing needs of Canadian seniors, referred to as older adults, and to identify innovative housing models to help diverse older adults age, and thrive, in place and in community.

As part of this project, a scan of existing Canadian and international housing legislations, regulations, policies, programs, and frameworks affecting older adults was conducted. Based on these findings, Chapter 2.0 identifies key themes and gaps in Canadian approaches to housing older adults. It looks specifically at initiatives supporting conventional housing models, age-friendly home modifications, core community supports, housing supply and affordability, and age-friendly innovation. Looking abroad, it identifies a sample of novel approaches in other developed nations that have integrated aging in place with appropriate supports into housing policy. Policy approaches in Nordic countries, Japan, and Ireland provide applicable lessons in diversifying housing options, improving the accessibility to core community supports, and standardizing age- friendly design. Based on this policy analysis and supplemented by existing literature, it identifies best practices related to housing in the Canadian context that allow diverse older adults to age in place and in community with appropriate supports.

Following this study, Chapter 3.0 identifies options for innovative housing models applicable to the Canadian context to help older adults age in their homes and communities. It provides a checklist that defines what constitutes innovative housing based on the best practices identified in Chapter 2.0. These models analyzed are distributed across the housing continuum from independent living to assisted living to entry into long-term care, collectively providing a cross-section that covers a broad spectrum of needs,