Aging in place - Assignment Example

Aging in place Aging in place Aging in place is whereby an elderly individual lives at the comfort of his home contentedly as he or she ages (Christner-Lile, 2011). Most seniors live alone and they are exposed to numerous risks. One of the risks is falling which usually leads to vital injuries that might lead to death. This essay will address the issue of aging in place in Canada and the implications it has in the housing designs and the provision of various community services. As stated above, most adults in Canada have opted to age at home hence, exposing them to various risks such as falling.

Most of these adults prefer living alone in their residential homes. Therefore, they lack support especially when walking down the stairs, in the shower or even while crossing the road. This has had major implications in housing and neighborhood designs all over the United States and particularly in Canada. It is rather evident that an aging population also requires a change in the housing predilections and necessities. Most seniors require house modifications with grasp bars, nonskid floors, walk-in bathtubs, more lighting and no staircases (Thomas, 2008).

In cases where the house has stairs, they would prefer the installation of extra rails or even opt for home elevators instead of the stairways. In Canada, most of the elderly population is based in the urban centers due to better access to sustenance services (Black, 2008). Furthermore, public transportation is also a major issue for the elderly both in the rural and urban areas in Canada. Most elderly people use public transport whose access is scanty in rural areas (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2008).

This restricts them from accessing support services and partaking in the community life. Moreover, neighborhoods for the seniors should be separated from busy working people. Health and social services such as police protection should have stronger emphasis in neighborhoods having elderly individuals (Hegland, 2009). This will allow them to live their everyday life without worrying about any form of injury. This promotes a senior-friendly atmosphere. Therefore, the community should come up with strategies to incorporate the senior population by developing houses that are conducive for the elderly, improving the provision of community services and converting unused land into recreational facilities which bring them together (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 2008).

ReferencesBlack, K. (2008). Health and Aging-in-Place: Implications for Community Practice. Journal of Community Practice, 16(1), 79-95.Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (2008). Impacts of the aging of the Canadian Population on Housing and Communities. Socio-economic series, 08-003. Retrieved from http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/odpub/pdf/65913.pdf?fr=1404592269537 Christner-Lile, D. (2011). Aging in place. England: Tate Publishers. Hegland, M. (2009). The Cultural Context of Aging: Worldwide Perspectives.

Westport CT: Praeger Publishers.Thomas, M. & Lawlor, D. (2008). Residential design for aging in place. New York: Wiley Press.