24 Aging in Place Statistics for Canadian Homeowners (2026)
Cited data on how many older Canadians want to stay in their homes, how few have made changes, how often falls send seniors to hospital, and the tax credits that help pay for grab bars, ramps and accessible bathrooms.
81% of Canadians aged 50 and older want to stay in their own home, or a smaller one, as long as they can, according to the National Institute on Ageing, yet 62% have made no changes or plans to get their homes ready. Aging in place means living safely and independently in your own home as you get older, often with upgrades such as grab bars, handrails, ramps and walk-in showers. The 24 statistics below cover preferences, home readiness, falls, the aging population and the tax credits that help pay for the work. If you have a project, start with our handyman services.
NIA figures come from its 2025 Ageing in Canada Survey of 6,001 Canadians aged 50+, published January 2026. Falls data comes from the Public Health Agency of Canada, last updated November 2025. Dollar amounts are CAD unless marked. All sources were checked on October 25, 2026.
Key Takeaways
- 81% of Canadians 50+ want to stay in their own home or a smaller one as long as they can (NIA).
- Only 49% say their home is fully suitable to support them as they age (NIA).
- 62% have made no modifications or plans, and 18% have installed safety features (NIA).
- Falls cause 89% of injury-related hospitalizations among Canadians 65+ (Public Health Agency of Canada).
- 19.5% of Canadians were 65 or older on July 1, 2025 (Statistics Canada).
- Up to $20,000 a year of accessibility renovations qualifies for a federal credit worth up to $3,000 (CRA).
How many older Canadians want to age in place?
Most older Canadians want to stay where they are. The National Institute on Ageing found that 81% of Canadians aged 50 and older want to remain in their own home, or a smaller one, for as long as they can. The share rises with age and is far higher among homeowners, at 90%, than among renters, at 65%.
1. 81% of Canadians 50+ want to stay in their own home
In 2025, 81% of Canadians aged 50 and older said they want to remain in their own homes for as long as they can, either in their current home (70%) or a smaller, more manageable one (11%) (NIA).
2. Only 3% prefer a long-term care home
Moving into a long-term care home or residence remains a rare preference at 3%, and moving in with a family member is 2%. Another 9% said it was too early to know (NIA).
3. The wish to stay home rises with age
Among Canadians aged 50 to 64, 77% want to stay in their own home or a smaller one, compared with 85% of those aged 65 to 79 and 87% of those 80 and older (NIA).
Source: NIA 2025 Ageing in Canada Survey.
4. 90% of homeowners 50+ want to age at home
Ownership is a strong factor: 90% of homeowners aged 50+ want to stay in their home or a smaller one, compared with only 65% of renters. Just 5% of homeowners were unsure about their future living arrangements, against 18% of renters (NIA).
5. Health shapes the choice
Of Canadians 50+ in excellent or very good health, 85% want to stay in their home or a smaller one, compared with 76% of those in fair or poor health (NIA).
Are Canadian homes ready for aging in place?
Most homes are not fully ready. Only 49% of Canadians aged 50 and older say their home is fully suitable to support them as they age, the NIA found, and 45% say it works for now but may not later. Just 18% have installed safety features, and 62% have taken no steps at all.
6. Only 49% say their home is fully suitable
Just under half (49%) of Canadians 50+ felt their homes were fully suitable to support them as they age. Another 45% said suitable for now but maybe not in the future, 4% not very suitable and 2% not suitable at all (NIA).
Source: NIA 2025 Ageing in Canada Survey.
7. Health and income change how suitable homes feel
Among those in excellent or very good health, 56% called their homes fully suitable, against 41% of those in fair or poor health. Only 38% of those with incomes "not enough and having a hard time" said the same, compared with 52% of those whose incomes are "good enough to save" (NIA).
8. 62% have made no modifications or plans
In 2025, 62% of Canadians 50+ reported making no modifications or plans to prepare their home for aging in place (NIA).
9. 18% have installed safety features
The most common steps were installing safety features such as grab bars or ramps (18%) and setting aside savings for future in-home care or renovations (18%). Another 8% had downsized or moved to a more accessible home (NIA).
10. 35% of Canadians 80+ have added safety features
Preparation rises with age: 11% of adults aged 50 to 64 had installed safety features, compared with 21% of those aged 65 to 79 and 35% of those 80 and older (NIA).
Source: NIA 2025 Ageing in Canada Survey.
How often do falls at home hurt older Canadians?
Falls are the main injury risk for older adults. The Public Health Agency of Canada counted 78,076 fall-related hospitalizations among Canadians 65 and older in 2022/23, excluding Quebec, and falls cause 89% of injury-related hospitalizations in this age group. More than 83% of those hospitalizations involved people living in private households.
11. Falls cause 89% of injury hospitalizations for seniors
There were 78,076 fall-related hospitalizations among adults 65 and older in 2022/23 (excluding Quebec), and falls caused 89% of injury-related hospitalizations in this age group (Public Health Agency of Canada).
12. Over 83% of fall hospitalizations start in private homes
Over 83% of fall-related hospitalizations were among older adults living in household residences rather than care homes. Hospitalizations for those in households rose 50% from 2008 to 2019 (Public Health Agency of Canada).
13. 34% of fall hospitalizations involve a hip fracture
Over a third (34%) of fall-related hospitalizations among adults 65 and older, or 26,848 cases, involved a hip fracture (Public Health Agency of Canada).
14. Fall deaths rose 51% from 2017 to 2022
In 2022, 7,621 adults aged 65 and older died of falls in Canada. Deaths due to falls rose 51% from 2017 to 2022 (Public Health Agency of Canada).
15. Fall injuries cost $5.6 billion a year
The direct cost of fall-related injuries among adults 65 and older was estimated at $5.6 billion in 2018, double the cost in the 25 to 64 age group (Public Health Agency of Canada).
16. Ontario and Alberta saw 200,825 fall ER visits
In 2022/23 there were 200,825 fall-related emergency department visits among adults 65 and older in Ontario and Alberta, and 70% of older adults with a fall injury sought medical attention (Public Health Agency of Canada).
17. Missing grab bars and stair railings are named hazards
The agency lists home hazards among the environmental causes of falls: clutter, a lack of stair railings, loose rugs, no grab bars in the bathroom and poor lighting on stairs. It names installing handrails and grab bars as a prevention strategy, and notes that 61% of falls happened while walking (Public Health Agency of Canada).
How fast is Canada's population aging?
Almost one in five Canadians was 65 or older on July 1, 2025, says Statistics Canada, a share of 19.5%. Ontario's share was 18.9%. The number of Canadians aged 65 and older grew 3.4% in one year to 8,108,467, while the number of children stayed flat.
18. 19.5% of Canadians are 65 or older
On July 1, 2025, 19.5% of Canada's population was aged 65 and older, up 0.5 points from a year earlier (Statistics Canada).
19. Ontario's 65+ share is 18.9%
In Ontario, 18.9% of residents were 65 or older on July 1, 2025, and the median age was 39.9 years (Statistics Canada).
20. Canada has 8.1 million seniors
The population aged 65 and older rose 3.4% from July 1, 2024, to July 1, 2025, reaching 8,108,467, while the population aged 0 to 14 stayed about flat at 6,261,162 (Statistics Canada).
What tax credits help pay for accessibility upgrades?
Two federal credits help. The Home Accessibility Tax Credit covers up to $20,000 of qualifying work a year for homeowners 65 and older or those eligible for the disability tax credit, worth up to $3,000. The Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit is worth up to $7,500 for building a secondary unit for a senior relative.
21. Up to $20,000 of accessibility work qualifies each year
The Home Accessibility Tax Credit lets eligible homeowners claim up to $20,000 in qualifying renovation expenses, for a credit of up to $3,000. The work must help a qualifying person get into or move around the home, or reduce the risk of harm (CRA).
22. The limit doubled in 2022
The annual expense limit was doubled from $10,000 to $20,000 in Budget 2022, for 2022 and later tax years. The Department of Finance names wheelchair ramps, walk-in bathtubs, wheel-in showers and grab bars as examples of eligible work (Department of Finance Canada).
23. A secondary unit for a senior can earn $7,500
The Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit is refundable and worth 15% of up to $50,000 in qualifying costs, or up to $7,500, for creating a self-contained secondary unit so a senior or an adult eligible for the disability tax credit can live with a relative (CRA). Routine repairs, appliances and financing costs do not qualify for the accessibility credit (CRA).
How do US homeowners compare?
The US picture is similar. AARP's 2024 survey found that 75% of Americans aged 50 and older want to stay in their current home as long as possible. Among those planning home changes, 72% plan bathroom upgrades such as grab bars and non-slip tile, and 71% plan changes to get into or around the home more easily.
24. 72% of US home modifiers plan bathroom upgrades
AARP found that 43% of adults 50+ who are unsure their community will suit them are looking to change their homes. Among those planning modifications, 72% plan bathroom upgrades and 71% plan ramps, chairlifts or similar changes. One in four older homeowners would consider building an accessory dwelling unit (AARP).
What this means for homeowners
- Start with the bathroom and stairs. Missing grab bars and stair railings are named fall hazards, and most are small handyman jobs. See our handyman cost guide for GTA rates.
- Plan bigger changes with real numbers. Our bathroom renovation cost guide covers accessible bathrooms, and the legal basement apartment cost guide covers a unit for a parent.
- Claim the credits. Keep receipts for accessibility work, since up to $20,000 a year can qualify for the federal credit.
- Compare vetted pros on our lists of the best handymen in Toronto and the best general contractors in Milton. Our handyman statistics cover the trade itself.
- Pro House Maintenance matches you with vetted, licensed and insured pros who give free written estimates. Request an estimate or browse our service areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Canadians want to age in place?
The National Institute on Ageing found that 81% of Canadians aged 50 and older want to stay in their own home, or a smaller one, for as long as they can. That splits into 70% who want to stay in their current home and 11% who would move to a smaller one. The 2025 survey covered 6,001 people.
How many older Canadians have made their homes safer?
Only 18% of Canadians 50+ have installed safety features such as grab bars or ramps, the 2025 NIA survey found, and 62% have made no changes or plans at all. The share rises with age, from 11% of people aged 50 to 64 to 35% of those aged 80 and older.
How common are falls among Canadian seniors?
The Public Health Agency of Canada counted 78,076 fall-related hospitalizations among adults 65 and older in 2022/23, excluding Quebec. Falls cause 89% of injury-related hospitalizations in this age group, and 7,621 older adults died from falls in 2022, up 51% from 2017.
What is the Home Accessibility Tax Credit?
The federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit lets homeowners 65 and older, or those eligible for the disability tax credit, claim up to $20,000 of qualifying renovation costs a year, worth up to $3,000. Grab bars, ramps, walk-in tubs and wheel-in showers are named examples of eligible work.
Can a handyman install grab bars and other safety upgrades?
Yes. Pro House Maintenance is free for homeowners, and it matches you with vetted, licensed and insured local pros for grab bars, handrails, bathroom changes and other safety work. You describe the job once, compare free written estimates and choose who to hire.