Designing the future of aging in place

Nearly all older Canadians want to remain in their homes or communities as they age, the National Institute on Ageing reports. Yet many live with chronic health conditions and rely on health, social and housing supports that are struggling to keep pace. The Canadian Institute for Health Information found that, in 2024, nearly 10 per cent of newly admitted long-term care residents in Canada could have stayed at home if the right supports had been available.

In Toronto, the issue is especially pressing. By 2041, adults aged 65 and older are expected to make up one-fifth of the city’s population. According to a new report from Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) School of Urban and Regional Planning (SURP), the way the City of Toronto delivers services, how neighbourhoods are planned and even zoning decisions will all play a role in shaping how well residents, particularly those living in high-rise communities, can age at home.

“Our system is falling short for many in our community who face barriers such as limited access, high costs and inconsistent services, making it difficult for them to age in place,” said Samantha Biglieri, director of TMU’s Health, Access + Planning Lab, a SURP professor and one of the report’s authors.

Unlocking the potential of naturally occurring retirement communities (NORCs)

As the country prepares for the unique social, economic and medical challenges associated with a rapidly aging population, innovative solutions are needed to support older adults who wish to age in place.

In partnership with Pamela Robinson, academic director at City Building TMU and an urban and regional planning professor, and The NORC Innovation Centre, professor Biglieri developed the “Aging in a Vertical City: Recommendations for the City of Toronto’s Third Senior’s Strategy” report for the City of Toronto. The report contains key recommendations to help the city reimagine multi-unit buildings as vibrant, vertical communities that support those who wish to age in place. It notes that about 42 per cent of Toronto’s adults aged 65 and older live in NORCs – apartment buildings or housing complexes not intended for seniors but now home to large numbers of them.

Professor Biglieri explained, “There's this huge population of older adults living in these vertical spaces, and there's this immense opportunity to bring services to them and to create efficiencies when it comes to serving them from a whole bunch of different perspectives.”

Building solutions together 

The report makes eight practical recommendations that focus on four areas of opportunity unique to vertical communities. The first area calls for stronger coordination across city divisions to better leverage the population density of vertical communities when delivering services and programming. This could improve snow clearance services as well as access to health care and recreational programming, making them more community-centred. Secondly, the report highlights the need for increased funding for community-led programming that prioritizes social connection to improve the mental, physical and social well-being of older adults. 

The third area of opportunity is reforming urban planning and zoning to create a more age-inclusive city to ensure older adults have access to safe and stable living conditions. This includes using data on older residents in all planning and policy decisions, reviewing existing policies and continuing efforts like Toronto’s Accessibility Guidelines and Official Plan updates that prioritize inclusive, age-friendly communities. 

And lastly, to help build a city that is both affordable and supports aging in place, the report suggests the city prioritize and fund affordable housing programs for older adults. These could include expanding eligibility for city rebate and relief programs to include older adults living in high-rises and ensuring a stable supply of accessible housing units for older adults.

“The report’s recommendations chart a path toward innovation. This collaboration between SURP and the NORC Innovation Centre opened the door to advancing these ideas further, together,” said professor Robinson.

“How do we make sure people remain and can stay connected to their communities throughout their life course?” asked professor Biglieri, noting the answer will look different across Canada. She and professor Robinson believe that if the City of Toronto acts on their recommendations, it could make the city a world-leading community for aging in place.

Read the “Aging in a Vertical City: Recommendations for the City of Toronto’s Third Senior’s Strategy” report (external link) , which builds on the work undertaken by the city to meet the goals of its two previous seniors’ strategies developed over the past 12 years.