DESIGNED FOR LIFE: Powering the Aging-in-Place Movement
As more Canadians look to stay in their homes longer, aging in place is becoming a major driver in home renovation, focused not just on comfort, but on independence, safety, and long-term functionality. This shift is also being fueled by multigenerational living. According to Statistics Canada, nearly 7 % of Canadians now live in multigenerational households, a number that continues to grow as families seek flexible, futureready homes.
Nowhere is this evolution more evident than in the bathroom. Traditional layouts, often with second-floor access, tight spaces, and limited mobility considerations, can become barriers over time. As a result, homeowners are prioritizing main-floor bathrooms and upgrading existing spaces with features like barrier-free showers, comfort-height toilets, wider doorways, and slip-resistant flooring. These are no longer specialty upgrades, but smart, proactive design choices that improve safety and everyday convenience.
However, while the design intent is simple, execution has traditionally been complex. Adding a bathroom or reconfiguring plumbing can mean breaking concrete, rerouting pipes, and taking on costly, disruptive construction, especially in older homes or spaces without easy access to gravity drainage.