Aging in Place

If you’re researching living arrangements for yourself or a senior loved one, consider all of the options, including the one most older adults prefer: Aging in place.

In Canada, different types of seniors’ residences offer a variety of services, including health and personal care:

Retirement homes, or retirement communities, are privately paid, home-like residences for seniors who can direct their own care, but also want or need access to support services, such as meal plans, personal care, and more.

Long-term care homes (also called nursing homes, residential care homes or continuing-care facilities) are publicly or privately funded, and provide support services, personal care and 24-hour nursing care for seniors who have medical needs and/or need help with daily activities.

Alternative housing, such as home sharing and senior co-housing, is less common but gaining popularity in Canada and around the world. These options enable seniors to keep living in the community, although they may have to move to or adapt to new household dynamics. For more details, read our article about alternative housing.

What about remaining in the home you love?

Aging in place means continuing to live at home for as long as possible. Research has shown that 96% of Canadian seniors prefer this option over long-term care facilities or moving in with family members.*

Sometimes, however, when seniors develop health issues or have difficulty keeping up with activities of daily living (such as cooking, housework, bathing, and dressing), they or their family members begin looking into retirement or long-term care facilities without fully exploring the possibility of staying at home.

Many people have misconceptions about home health care. Even those who don’t may be surprised to learn about the wide range of home care services that can help seniors stay right where they are.

“Our services at Bayshore help those we refer to as the ‘sandwich generation.’ These are people who are juggling their careers, their children, managing their households and personal interests, as well as their aging parents. It’s not always about the physical provision of care (we provide those services, as well). It’s about helping them make time to enjoy that cup of tea and complete household chores; to create quality time in which they can enjoy a conversation with their parents, and playtime with the grandchildren.”

Keena Naik — National Director of Consumer Home Health.

Benefits of home health care

Home health care helps older adults live safely and actively, while enjoying the comfort of their own homes. Services are provided by nurses or personal support workers, depending on the seniors’ needs.

Bayshore Home Care Services include:

Personal Care Services, such as bathing and dressing, meal preparation, companionship, laundry and light housekeeping.
In-home Nursing Services, including post-surgery/hospitalization care, serious-injury care, wound care, and more.
Around-the-clock Dementia Care Services.
Respite Care Services for families caring for their senior loved ones.

Home health care is a more affordable option when compared to living in a seniors’ facility. Services are typically available à la carte, with no long-term commitment or contract, and funding may be available to offset the cost (read more about paying for home care).

The benefits of home care and aging in place have become even more significant over the past two years. As we saw during the COVID-19 pandemic, home is often the safest place for seniors. Home healthcare services are provided one-on-one, reliably and consistently – a sharp contrast to the group living arrangements and chronic understaffing at many of Canada’s long-term care facilities.

Could home health care be the solution you’re looking for?

Bayshore Home Health is one of the most trusted names in home care, delivering high-quality care to Canadians for more than 55 years. Bayshore’s team of experts help aging seniors remain in the comfort and safety of their own homes, ensuring their quality of life and independence. Each family works with a dedicated Care Manager to design a customized care plan for their loved one.

“As a Care Manager at Bayshore, I help families navigate through the healthcare system, often at the worst times in their lives. I try to make the process as stress-free as possible. I’m privileged to get to know our elderly and vulnerable community, and share a very small part of their life through the healthcare journey. We work together to create a personalized care plan for each person, and follow up often to make sure this plan is still working for both the client and the family.

During the pandemic, as we know, no visitors were allowed into the hospitals to ensure everyone’s safety. This resulted in many people dying alone, and families were not able to say goodbye to their loved ones. Family members started to contact me during this time asking if we could provide palliative care nursing so their loved ones were not alone while they passed. Although it was a sad time for the families, they were extremely thankful when we were able to make this happen.”

Heather Roach — Care Manager at Bayshore Home Health.

Click here to learn more about how we help our clients live and age well in their own homes.