Abstract:

Dominant planning perspectives on housing for the elderly in Canada are contrasted with housing choices & preferences reported in a 1987 survey of community-dwelling elderly age 75+ in Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario. As expected, most respondents manifested a marked preference for "aging in place"; however, the findings also suggest that the old elderly live on a day-by-day basis, rarely consider future housing options, & refrain from seeking support services or making design alterations. This implies that not only do the old elderly want to remain in their home, but that they also prefer coping on their own. Policy recommendations include improved information on available support services, coordinated delivery, & enhanced crisis response capacity.