We're all getting older, and at some point, many of us will have to decide whether we, or our parents, can age in place or need to consider a retirement home.
John Tom, President of Superior Home Health Care in Barrie, says it's not something to be taken lightly, "We have significant challenges on the housing side, the senior side, and the healthcare portfolio…we want to help people age in place as opposed to being shipped off somewhere else because they want to be staying in their home, a place they're familiar with, without having to go someplace else."
Tom is one of the organizers of a Housing and Health symposium on March 20 at Liberty North, in Barrie.
With a surge in demand post-COVID, the event seeks to rally support for enabling individuals to remain in their familiar homes rather than transitioning to long-term care facilities.
Research has found that most adults prefer to age in place, a sentiment amplified by the hardships witnessed in long-term care facilities during the pandemic.
However, the capacity to support this choice is severely lacking, with a shortage of knowledgeable contractors and renovators capable of meeting the unique needs of aging individuals.
It may be necessary to renovate the home, everything from stair lift installations to bathroom renovations, to ensure safety and accessibility for seniors. This highlights the need for a comprehensive approach involving various stakeholders.
The symposium hopes to foster collaboration among contractors, healthcare professionals, government agencies, and consumers to devise customized solutions for aging in place. Separate sessions will cater to industry professionals in the morning, and consumers in the afternoon, offering insights into funding sources and best practices for home modifications.
Registration for the symposium, free for the afternoon session, is open to all via homemods.ca.
banner image: Mart Production via Pexels
