Building codes must account for aging: alliance

Atlantic Canadians need to stop living in "never, never land" when it comes to building homes, and building codes should reflect that, says the Atlantic Seniors Housing Research Alliance.

The group is lobbying for building code changes that could allow aging Canadians to stay in their homes longer. It has just completed a six-year study on what it would take for seniors to remain in their homes.

"We build homes, and we always have built homes as if we were Peter Pan, and we lived in Never, Never Land. We're never going to get sick and we're never going to get old," Don Shiner, principal investigator for the alliance, told CBC News Tuesday.

"As a result of that, our homes are not accessible."

Many Canadians building new homes don't think about whether their house will be practical when they get older, said Shiner. Things like larger elevator shafts or wider doors can make a huge difference.

Shiner is making a presentation to all the provincial housing ministers next week in Hamilton.