What to Look for in a Home If You Want to Age in Place

Nicole Schell, Broker and Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) with the Schell Real Estate Team at Peak Realty Ltd. in Waterloo Region, often hears that aging in place means staying in the family home forever. Aging in place is really about staying in the life you love: your routines, your neighbourhood, your comfort and your independence. For many people, that means choosing a better place to age.

Adapted from social posts Nicole shared between 2025 and 2026.

Start With One Question

Where do I want to age well? It could be a bright condo where you can lock the door and travel when you want, a cozy bungalow where everything you need is on one floor, or a home near your grandkids, a walking trail or your favourite coffee shop.

The downsizers I see making the smartest moves ask questions like these before they buy:

• Will this home still work for me in 5 to 10 years?
• How easy is it to live here every day, keeping the future in mind?
• What ongoing costs should I really expect?
• Could this layout adapt if my needs change?

Getting In and Out Easily

Count the steps from the driveway to the front door, and from the garage into the house. A home with no steps, or room to add a ramp later, is easier to live in over time. An attached garage with direct entry helps in winter.

Everything You Need on One Floor

Look for a bedroom, a full bathroom and the laundry on the main floor. If the home has stairs, they should be optional for daily living. It helps to ask early: what if the stairs became hard to use?

Bathrooms That Can Adapt

A walk in shower, or a tub that could be converted, makes a big difference. So does enough floor space to move around comfortably. Ask whether the walls can support grab bars.

Small Details That Add Up

• Wider doorways and hallways
• Lever door handles and faucets, which are easier on the hands
• Good lighting, especially at entrances and on stairs
• Kitchen storage you can reach without a step stool
• A yard and driveway you can keep up with, or a condo where snow and lawn care are handled for you

Location Matters as Much as the House

Think about how you will get around if you drive less one day. How far is it to groceries, the pharmacy, your doctor and your family? Is there a Grand River Transit stop or an ION station within a comfortable walk? My post on bungalow vs. condo for your downsize compares the two most common choices.

Help With the Cost of Changes

If you are 65 or older, or eligible for the disability tax credit, the federal Home Accessibility Tax Credit may apply to renovations that make your home safer or easier to get around, such as ramps, grab bars and walk in showers. Eligible expenses can be claimed up to $20,000 a year. Check the details on canada.ca or with your accountant before you start.

Plan Before Life Decides for You

The happiest people I’ve worked with chose a home that fit this stage of life before life forced the decision. Planning protects your independence. As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, I look at every home with these questions in mind. You can read more about why an SRES® can help when you downsize.

If you want your next home to be one you can stay in comfortably for years, I’d be glad to help you find it. You can read more on the Downsizing in Waterloo Region page, or reach out to start the conversation.