Accessible, affordable, and right-sized housing is a high priority for community members who love Whistler and wish to age well in place. MAC actively advocates for seniors’ housing, provides information, and engages in partnerships so that older residents can continue to make Whistler their home. Seniors are changing the landscaping for seniors by improving our housing options and redesigning communities to make them more senior friendly (Whistler Age Friendly Report).
As we start to age, we need to look at our housing needs and options with an eye to the future. Some people will want to move to a new location that better supports interests and activities, others will move to be closer to family or friends, while others may sell everything to travel the world living on a cruise ship. We need to create a home as we age, that allows us to age and live well, doing the things we love to do but supports our changing needs, whether physical, financial and/or environmental. However, for those of us who have decided to stay and age in place in Whistler, we need to ask: Am I ready? Below you will find information on housing options available in Whistler. Information on different housing solutions is provided along with federal and provincial housing grants that are available for renovations and retrofitting your home. For more information about housing needs to age in place, please visit the Aging In Place section.
There are many housing options for older adults in British Columbia. Whether you own or rent your home, or live in a supported or assisted living environment, there are programs to help with your housing needs.
Housing co-ops come in many forms. Some co-ops are townhouses and small buildings with just a handful of units. Others are large apartment-style buildings with hundreds of units.
Homeshare is the exchange of housing for help in the home. A householder, typically an aged person with a spare room, offers free or low-cost accommodation to another person in exchange for an agreed level of support. Way of generating income or splitting expenses while at the same time as getting some sort of support. Those 70+ are often looking for companionship and assistance whereas 50 to 69, are more focussed on getting the rent cheque and financial benefits of homesharing. Whistler could set up its own homeshare matching service. Great solution for younger workers in Whistler in need of accommodation. In addition , home sharing could also be with family/children where two generations invest in property together. Possibilities include living in child’s home or in a carriage house on the property or vice versa. Build from scratch for multi-generational use.
A life lease is a legal agreement that permits purchasers to occupy a home for life (or until they are no longer capable of living there) in exchange for a lump sum payment and subsequent monthly payments to cover the ongoing project management fees and maintenance and operating expenses (and in some cases rent, depending on the size of the initial payment). Could include intergenerational. Usually affordable (non-profit sponsor may donate land, capital, labour) variations in set-up between provinces in Canada.
The Perfect Home for a Long Life responds to the anxieties of boomers and seniors about where to live when they grow old and their fears about ending up in a nursing home. Combining practical lived experiences with research, tips and resources, The Perfect Home for a Long Life is an essential guide for anyone experiencing retirement or planning for the future. Many different housing options are discussed.
Adaptations need to directly address the permanent disability or loss of ability of the homeowner, tenant or household member. Find out what modifications are eligible.
MAC gratefully and respectfully acknowledges that the land known as Whistler lies in the unceded territory of the Sḵwxwú7mesh Nation and Lil̓wat7úl Nation.
