People who inhabit and visit our houses come in all shapes and sizes, range in age from infants to seniors, and possess various ever-changing abilities and skills. As we grow up, grow old and welcome new people into our homes, our housing needs change. A house that is designed and built to reflect the principles of universal design is safer and more accommodating to everyone who lives in or visits it, regardless of age or physical ability. Read more...(3590 words, 6 images, estimated 14:22 mins reading time)
Universal design is a concept designed to accommodate the functional needs of everyone: children, adults and seniors with or without activity limitations or disabilities.
One of the goals of universal design is to maximize the usability of environments. Everyone appreciates having a well-designed bathroom that is safe, spacious, relaxing and easy to use. Read more...(5527 words, 15 images, estimated 22:06 mins reading time)
People who inhabit and visit our houses come in all shapes and sizes, range in age from infants to seniors, and possess various ever-changing abilities and skills. As we grow up, grow old and welcome new people into our homes, our housing needs change. A house that is designed and built to reflect the principles of universal design is safer and more accommodating to everyone who lives or visits here, regardless of age or physical ability. Read more...(3361 words, 7 images, estimated 13:27 mins reading time)
A Resource Book for Living at Home and Guide to Making Home Adaptations
Introduction
Dementia impairs cognitive capacity — the ability to think, remember, understand, reason, judge and communicate. The loss of these abilities affects an individual’s capacity to function and perform daily activities, such as handling finances, cooking and driving. There are several types of dementia, the most common being Alzheimer Disease.1Read more...(2447 words, estimated 9:47 mins reading time)
This study examined the housing issues that adults with intellectual disabilities and their families are facing. Conducted between December 2004 and February 2006, it addressed: Read more...(1657 words, estimated 6:38 mins reading time)
the availability of housing and associated support services;
Hello everyone; I found this on the City of St. Albert website and thought many of our readers might find it useful. It’s the official PDF of the residential bylaws. It explains most everything that is “on the books” and I have to say it’s not too hard to read. Kudo’s to the city for making such a clear to read document. Read more...(79 words, estimated 19 secs reading time)
The overwhelming majority of seniors wish to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible. However, many homes are not well designed to meet our changing needs as we age.
This Guide identifies the types of difficulties that seniors can experience and describes types of adaptations that can help overcome these difficulties. Read more...(306 words, estimated 1:13 mins reading time)
The Healthy House is bright, open, energy efficient and welcoming. It can be new or renovated, in downtown or suburbia. Wherever you find it, the Healthy House is characterized by five key elements. Read more...(331 words, estimated 1:19 mins reading time)
Occupant Health
Healthy Housing™ promotes superior quality of indoor air, water and lighting.
There are many different reasons to renovate a home: to save energy (and save on utility bills), to make room for a growing family, to improve safety or increase the resale value of your home, or simply to bring a fresh new look to your home. There are also a number of different ways to finance your renovation. Read on to obtain information for a number of financing options, along with practical advice to consider before starting your renovation project. Read more...(789 words, estimated 3:09 mins reading time)
Here are some ways to begin looking for your new home: Read more...(2534 words, estimated 10:08 mins reading time)
Word-of-mouth
Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a new home. Surprising things sometimes happen. For example, you might hear about a home that is just becoming available on the market.
Canada’s Economic Action Plan Offers Incentives for Homeownership
Buying your first home is one of the largest investments of your life. Canada’s Economic Action Plan introduces the First-Time Home Buyers’ (FTHB) Tax Credit and the expansion of the Home Buyers’ Plan (HBP) to provide you with additional benefits and help you realize your dream of homeownership. Read more...(378 words, estimated 1:31 mins reading time)
You can make your mortgage payments monthly, biweekly or weekly. But, whichever timetable you’ve chosen, it’s important to always make payments on time. Making late payments is called delinquency. Delinquency may result in late charges and negatively affect your credit rating. Failing to make payments can even lead to very serious consequences, like . Read more...(1141 words, estimated 4:34 mins reading time)
Once you have a good idea about your finances, you’ll need to think clearly about the home you’d like to buy.
Your Needs — Now and in the Future
Try to buy a home that meets most of your needs for the next 5 to 10 years, or find a home that can grow and change with your needs. Read more...(3292 words, estimated 13:10 mins reading time)
How can you know if you are financially ready to become a homeowner?
This step guides you through some simple calculations to figure out your current financial situation, and the maximum home price that you should consider. Read more...(3637 words, estimated 14:33 mins reading time)
