Aging-in-Place: How To Adapt Homes for Seniors Who Prefer to Stay Home

Aging in Place  |  April 16, 2025

How to Meet The Needs of Edmonton’s Seniors Who Live Alone

What do you need to know about aging-in-place in Edmonton? Instead of moving to retirement communities, more Canadians are opting to “age in place” and remain in their homes as they age. This often necessitates home modifications to ensure their safety and health as their physical abilities decline.

Seniors and Aging-in-Place

A new career field has risen to address this need: the Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), a program of the National Association of Home Builders (www.nahb.org). CAPS certified specialists assess homes to identify and recommend modifications to prevent injuries from falls and other risks.

According to Veteran Affairs Canada, one third of Canadians age 65 and over fall each year. Veteran Affairs Canada adds that environmental factors lead to about half of all falls that occur at home. These include slipping and tripping hazards, poor lighting, or lack of needed modifications, such as bathroom grab bars, handicapped showers, stair railings and ramps. 

For more information, visit the Veterans Affairs website: Falls Prevention Initiative

Home modifications help seniors maintain quality of life because they prevent injuries and loss of independence from early admission to an assisted living or long-term care facility.

Aging-in-Place and Examples of Commonly Recommended Modifications for Senior Homes:

• Install grab bars for toilets and tubs and install a walk-in tub and/or tub seat
• Remove unnecessary throw rugs and fasten down rugs or floor runners to prevent slipping
• Move furniture to create clear walking paths
• Keep objects off the floor and coil or secure cords to the wall to prevent tripping
• Replace knobs with lever door handles
• Apply non-slip tape on uncarpeted indoor and outdoor steps
• Replace standard light switches with rocker-style switches
• Increase the width of doorways and hallways to accommodate wheelchairs, and where possible, lower sinks and countertops
• Move often-used items to lower cabinets to avoid the need for step stools
• Repair or replace loose handrails and install adequate lighting in stairways
• Install an elevator or chair lift
• Install an elevated dishwasher or one with drawers for easy access
• Replace old stoves with induction cook tops to help prevent burns
• Replace ceramic tile floors with hardwood or vinyl for safe standing

Shedding Light on Senior Home Modification

When modifying a home for a senior don’t forget the importance of good lighting. Seniors need two to three times as much light to see as well as younger people.

Good Lighting—in the form of natural light—Provides Seniors With Advantages Besides Safety:

• Sunlight produces a good dose of Vitamin D, which helps the body absorb more calcium to strengthen teeth and bones. Choose window treatments that allow in sunlight, without glare, to enhance the health of seniors, many of whom get outside less than they used to.
• Daylight also uplifts psychological health. It lessens the energy-zapping effects of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and other forms of depression.

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is Proud to Offer a Wide Range of Home Senior Care Services

Our trained caregivers will ensure your loved one is comfortable, independent and safe in their home. On top of that, we will also aim to enhance their overall health, quality of life and general happiness. 

Top-Notch Home Healthcare for Seniors in Edmonton, Alberta

Comfort Keepers of Edmonton offers a broader range of senior care services. We offer retirement care, respite care, senior care, companionship care, end-of-life care, post-surgery care, palliative care, personal care, and senior living transition services. If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones, we can provide 24-hour care and more!

Helping Seniors Age-in-Place with Companionship Care and Interactive Caregiving™

Empathetic care starts in the heart and allows us to meet our client’s needs. Our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind, empathy. We strive to stimulate our clients emotionally, mentally and socially, thus enhancing their overall quality of life. 

Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses companionship, safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs). The system increases seniors’ sense of well-being, independence and companionship by focusing on Senior Mind, Senior Body, Senior Nutrition, and Senior Safety.

Affordable and Client-Directed Homecare is Available for Qualifying Albertans

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton is an Approved Service Provider for the Client Directed Homecare Invoicing (CDHCI) Program Offered by Alberta Health Services. 

What is the Client Directed Home Care Invoicing Program (CDHCI)?

CDHCI is a great program provided by Alberta Health Services (AHS), allowing clients to choose an approved agency like Comfort Keepers Edmonton for Personal Care, Respite Care and Homemaking needs. The chosen agency can then bill AHS directly for services rendered for approved hours through Alberta Blue Cross. Read more about the program HERE.

Accredited Home Care Edmonton

Comfort Keepers® Edmonton was awarded the “Accredited with Exemplary Standing” seal by Accreditation Canada. This honour demonstrates Comfort Keepers’ commitment to offering safe, high-quality home care to its senior clients in Edmonton, AB.

To learn more about senior in-home care in Edmonton, contact the Comfort Keepers® office. Our service territory includes Edmonton, Devon, Sherwood Park, Stony Plain and surrounding areas, contact the Comfort Keepers Edmonton office at 780-465-4665.

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