For many of us, home is more than a building. It is the neighbourhood we know, the routines we enjoy and the place filled with decades of memories. So, it is understandable that many Canadians hope to remain in their own homes as they get older.
This idea is commonly known as ageing in place: being able to live safely, comfortably and independently in your home and community as you age.
Ontario Is Getting Older
According to
Statistics Canada, 18.9% of Ontario residents were age 65 or older in 2025. Ontario projections anticipate the number of seniors continuing to increase substantially in the decades ahead.
There is also a strong preference among Canadians to remain at home.
A federal report on ageing at home cites research indicating that 96% of Canadians age 65 and older would do everything they could to avoid moving into a long-term care facility.
For many homeowners, accomplishing that goal may mean gradually adapting the home to changing mobility, accessibility and safety needs.
What Does an Age-Friendly Home Look Like?
Ageing-in-place renovations can range from very inexpensive changes to major renovations. Common modifications can include:
- Installing grab bars and handrails
- Replacing traditional tubs with walk-in showers
- Adding non-slip flooring
- Improving lighting in hallways, stairways and entrances
- Installing lever-style door handles and easier-to-use faucets
- Widening doorways to accommodate walkers or wheelchairs
- Adding entrance ramps
- Installing stair lifts
- Moving important living spaces to the main floor
- Renovating bathrooms for improved accessibility
- Creating a bedroom or accessible living suite on the main level
Don't Forget About Your Home Insurance
If you are modifying your home for ageing in place, your insurance broker should be part of the conversation, particularly when significant renovations are involved.
Adding a grab bar is very different from building an addition, installing a new bathroom or creating an in-law suite.
Major renovations may change the rebuilding value, layout or use of your home. The Insurance Bureau of Canada recommends telling your insurance representative about significant renovations and construction before work begins because coverage requirements may change during and following the work.
There may also be additional considerations if ageing in place involves:
- Creating an in-law or secondary suite.
- If a parent or other family member moves in and a separate living area is created, tell your broker. Adding a secondary suite can change the property's value and insurance requirements.
- Installing expensive equipment. Stair lifts, accessibility equipment or other significant additions may increase the cost of rebuilding or replacing parts of your home following an insured loss.
- Hiring contractors. Before major renovations begin, ask contractors about their insurance and discuss the planned work with your insurance broker.
- Changing how the home is occupied. If family members, caregivers, tenants or others begin living in the home, that may also be something your insurer needs to know.
Consider Liability When Caregivers Visit Your Home
Ageing in place may also mean having personal support workers, nurses, cleaners or other caregivers regularly entering the home. This makes personal liability coverage, which is typically part of a home insurance policy, especially important. A homeowner can potentially be held responsible if someone visiting or working at the property is injured because of an unsafe condition, such as an icy walkway, loose handrail, poor lighting or another hazard.
Homeowners can be held personally liable for bodily injury unintentionally caused to others on their property. If you begin receiving regular in-home care, particularly if you are hiring someone privately rather than using an outside care agency, it is a good idea to speak with your insurance broker.
Insurance needs aren't determined simply by your age. What matters is whether changes to your home, its value, occupancy or use affect the information on which your insurance policy is based.
Plan for Your Home and Your Future
Ageing in place does not necessarily require completely renovating your home today. It may simply mean looking around your home differently.
If you're renovating your Windsor-Essex home, adding an in-law suite or making significant accessibility improvements, talk to Gibb Insurance Brokers before the work begins. We can help you understand whether the changes could affect your home insurance and make sure your coverage continues to reflect the home you actually live in.