Victoria Colonist - Growing old at home

Whether we want to think about it or not, the reality is that more of us than ever can look forward to age-related physical hurdles. According to a 2006 study from Statistics Canada, the number of Canadians over age 65 will double by 2036, increasing seniors' share of the population from 13.2 per cent to 24.5 per cent.

The Canadian Association of Gerontology says that the majority of aging Canadians want to stay in their own homes.

However, most of our homes are built for young, active families who can readily negotiate stairs, narrow halls and high kitchen cabinets. They are not geared to aging in place.

While builders are good at responding to consumer demand, they are also "very conservative," says Avi Friedman, an architecture professor at McGill University. He designed the Grow Home and Next Home, universal design dwellings that have resulted in thousands of homes in Montreal and inspired similar projects throughout North America.

"[Developers] will go on selling single-family homes until there is no more demand," he says.