G.W Home is a Certified Adaptiv Home Specialisist Providing Home Adaptations for a Lifetime of Comfort
As a senior, navigating the aging process and changes to your health and mobility can often be overwhelming. Your home, which has always been a place of comfort and safety, can start to present new challenges. From bathtubs and showers to stairs and doorways, spaces you once moved through with ease may begin to feel daunting or even hazardous.
Staying rooted in your own home is important for your continued independence and quality of life as you age. At G.W Home Improvements, we offer home modifications to help improve mobility, accessibility, and safety in your home, allowing you to age in place safely and comfortably and maintain your independence as you grow older.
Did you know?
Never before has the number of Canadians nearing retirement been so high. By 2043, people aged 65 and older will represent nearly 1 in 4 Canadians.
What Is Aging in Place?
Aging in place refers to seniors having the health and social support and services they need to live safely and independently in their homes and community for as long as they are able to.
Aging in place allows seniors to remain in their homes without having to move to assisted living facilities, nursing homes, or retirement communities. It focuses on staying in a familiar environment that meets their physical, social, and emotional needs with the help of home modifications, support services, and resources that ensure their comfort and well-being.
What Are Aging-in-Place Home Modifications?
At G.W Home Improvements, we provide aging-in-place home modification services to renovate or retrofit your living space to improve mobility, accessibility, safety, and comfort. These services include:
Bathroom Modifications
- Grab bars: Installing grab bars near the toilet, bathtub, and shower for extra support and stability.
- Walk-in or roll-in shower: Replacing bathtubs with walk-in or roll-in showers to prevent slips and falls.
- Raised toilet seats: Installing raised toilet seats makes it easier for seniors with mobility issues to sit and stand.
- Handheld showerheads: Installing handheld showerheads for easier washing.
Kitchen Modifications
- Lowered countertops: Adjusting the countertop height to accommodate seniors seated or using mobility aids.
- Pull-out shelves and lazy susans: Installing easier-to-use shelving options in cabinets to improve accessibility.
- Accessible door handles and cabinet pulls: Using easy-to-pull handles and knobs throughout the kitchen.
Flooring Modifications
- Non-slip flooring: Using non-slip flooring materials throughout the house, especially in areas prone to moisture, like bathrooms and kitchens.
- Low-pile carpet and smooth flooring: Choosing flooring that is easy to walk on and maneuver with wheelchairs or walkers.
Lighting Modifications
- Improved lighting: Ensuring adequate lighting in all areas of the home, including stairways, hallways, and entryways, to reduce the risk of falls.
- Motion-activated lights: Installing motion-controlled lights in key areas to provide illumination automatically.
Entryway Modifications
- Ramps or handrails: Installing ramps or handrails at entryways supports easy access for seniors using mobility aids like wheelchairs or walkers.
- Wider doorways: Widening doorways to accommodate mobility aids like walkers and wheelchairs make it easier for seniors to move between rooms.
Technology Upgrades
- Medical alert systems: Installing medical alert systems that allow seniors to easily call for help in emergencies.
- Smart home devices: Using smart home technology for features like home security cameras, locks, appliances, temperature control, and automated lighting eliminates the need to get up and down frequently, helping reduce the risk of falls.
- Specialized smoke alarms: Specialized fire alarms come with extra features to help older adults avoid fire-related injuries, like announcing the location of each fire so seniors can avoid smoke and flames as they evacuate.
Elevators and Stairlifts
- Elevators or stairlifts help facilitate easier and safer movement between floors in a home. New technology also allows elevators and stairlifts to be installed in smaller spaces.
What Are the Benefits of Aging-in-Place Home Modifications?
Aging-in-place home modifications play a crucial role in enhancing safety. Falls remain the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations among Canadian seniors, with 30% of seniors falling each year. Given that 50% of falls that result in hospitalization occur in the home, making necessary adaptations can significantly reduce the risk of injury so seniors can continue to live in their homes safely.
Learn More about Adaptiv Home Renovations.
Home Modifications for Multigenerational Living
For seniors who can’t stay in their homes but don’t want to move into a long-term care facility, multigenerational living has proven to be a popular solution. In these cases, seniors move into their children’s homes for financial security, emotional and health-related support, and to foster closer family connections.
The G.W Home Improvements team offers home modification services to support multigenerational living. We can make aging-in-place modifications to a grandparent suite or a unit connected to the primary residence that has been adapted for grandparents. These modifications help create a functional, safe and comfortable home for the entire family.
Get an estimate for multigenerational living modifications for your home
Offsetting the Cost of Aging-in-Place Home Renovations
For seniors who require financial assistance but don’t want to leave their homes, retrofitting their space to accommodate a renter is an excellent option. Renovating a portion of their home, such as a basement or garage, or converting their house into a multiplex can help generate income to offset the cost of home renovations while providing continuing financial stability. This option allows seniors to maintain their independence and creates a sustainable financial plan for the future.
Get in touch to discuss renovating or converting your home
What Types of Grants and Tax Rebates Are Available for Aging-in-Place Home Modifications?
Various grants and tax credits are available from both the Ontario and federal governments to help seniors with the cost of modifying their homes.
Financing Options for Aging-in-Place Home Modifications
We offer several financing options for our aging-in-place home modification services. Get in touch with our team to find out more.
Why Work With G.W Home Improvements for Aging-in-Place Home Modifications?
Serving Hamilton, Burlington, Oakville, Milton, Grimsby, St Catharine’s, and Brantford, G.W Home Improvements is a trusted full-service general contractor servicing both residential and commercial properties.
We have extensive expertise in home modifications for seniors, with a team of in-house specialists and a network of trusted tradespeople. Our team is dedicated to understanding each client’s unique needs and delivering personalized, expert solutions that ensure safety, comfort, and independence.
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20+ years
of experience in home renovation
100+
completed home improvement projects
Get a Free Aging-in-Place Home Modifications Estimate
Interested in learning how we can make your home more accessible, comfortable and safe as you age in place? Get in touch today to book a free, no-obligation estimate.