Housing for Life

It’s a simple fact. Life does not stand still.

People age, families change, and so do their needs – especially when it comes to living space.

FlexHousing™ is an innovative approach to home design, renovation and construction that is accessible as well as able to adapt and convert affordably as people’s lifestyles change.

In Canada, the United States and Europe, this approach to home design and building is giving homeowners more flexible living space than ever before. Designed and pre-engineered to adapt to the changing needs of its occupants over their lifetimes, FlexHousing™ is housing of the future, available today.

This is a practical and modern-day approach to designing and building houses of all kinds – single-family dwellings, duplexes, multi-units, townhouses and even apartments – allowing residents to convert space to meet their changing needs.

FlexHousing™ means homeowners no longer have to move simply to get another bathroom or more living space. Need to convert a family room into two bedrooms? With a FlexHouse™, it’s no problem, because the rooms are designed and built for change. FlexHousing™ also works in renovation projects.

Most homes built in Canada in the last 50 years are designed for two-parent families with two or more children. Kitchens and bathrooms are usually small, with narrow doorways, making them inaccessible to anyone using a mobility device.

It can be difficult and expensive to adapt these houses to take advantage of new housing technology.

Combining FlexHousing™ principles with the latest in housing technology, healthy materials and improved air ventilation systems creates more comfortable and convenient living space, and hence protects occupants’ health as well as natural habitat.

FlexHousing™ provides a basic level of accessibility, adaptability and affordability, allowing a person to stay in one’s own home as one grows older, as one acquires a temporary disability, or when accommodating a child with a disability.

FLEX FEATURES

Mobility
For people with reduced mobility, FlexHousing™ provides convenience by offering light switches and storage at lower levels, and wider doorways at 865 cm to 910 cm (2? 10? to 3? 0?). It also reduces or eliminates changes in floor level, doing away with the need for stairs and the tripping hazards they present.

Limited Agility and Dexterity
People with stiff joints and hands appreciate FlexHousing™ features such as lever handles that can be easier to grasp and turn than round doorknobs or faucets. Stiff legs, arms and backs also make it hard to bend over to reach electrical outlets or lift something off a high shelf. FlexHousing™ has the answer: higher outlets and lower shelves.

Balance Problems
Slippery floors, baths and showers present a hazard for everyone, but especially people with poor balance. FlexHousing™ non-slip surfaces help prevent falls. In addition, people with balance, muscle and stiffness problems can climb stairs more easily when aided by an easy-to-grasp railing and consistent stair depth and tread height. Bathtub and shower walls should be reinforced with 3/4-inch plywood so that, if needed, grab bars can be installed anywhere on the bathtub or shower surround. This FlexHousing™ feature can help prevent falls and ease the use of either the shower or tub.

Reduced Stamina
People with reduced stamina may encounter difficulties in doing common household tasks like cooking. FlexHousing™ features that can ease the performance of household chores include: a lowered counter in the kitchen to allow a person to sit while preparing meals; reduced distance between the kitchen and eating area; easy-to-open doors; and easy-to-use hardware and appliances.

General Health Issues
Clean indoor air creates a healthy environment, particularly for people with respiratory diseases such as asthma and allergies. To help keep indoor air fresh, FlexHousing™ incorporates air filters and exchangers as well as windows that are easy to open. Individual area heating controls contribute to occupant health by helping people stay comfortable in their immediate surroundings. FlexHousing™ provides additional space to permit easier transfer from a wheelchair to bed or bath, and bathrooms are located near the bedrooms.

Slower Reflexes and Response Time
People with slowed reflexes and response time can be seriously burned by hot water or a hot stove element. To provide a safer home, FlexHousing™ includes temperature controls on showers and taps. FlexHousing™ also provides for stoves with front controls for reducing burns resulting from reaching over hot burners or steaming pots. In addition, smoke and heat alarms are installed throughout the house.

Sensory Disabilities
FlexHousing™ accommodates people with vision or hearing loss. Floors, counters or any changes in floor level have different-coloured surfaces to aid depth perception. To improve the home’s safety for people with hearing loss or deafness, FlexHousing™ offers alarms and doorbells with lights or vibrating signals. FlexHousing™ also eliminates sharp corners and uninsulated hot water pipes. For additional security, there are home-automation features such as health-monitoring systems, panic buttons and remote-controlled communications systems.

Need for Independence
FlexHousing™ features that offer safety and convenience help anyone live independently and remain longer in their home. This, in turn, enhances the person’s physical and psychological well-being, and helps lower the cost of home care, medical care, personal support, social services and financial assistance.

READ MORE ABOUT FLEXHOUSING™

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has published several information products for you to know more about FlexHousing.

FlexHousing™: Homes that Adapt to Life’s Changes
$9.95 plus applicable taxes.

FexHousing™ Pocket Planner
Free.

Research Highlights, Socio-Economic Series
The Cost of FlexHousing™ and FlexHousing™: Building Adaptable Housing
Free.

To order these information products and for more information on FlexHousing™, call Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation at 1-800-668-2642, or visit www.cmhc.ca.


CONTACT CMHC:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
700 Montreal Rd.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P7
Phone: (613) 748-2000
TTY: (613) 748-2447
Fax: (613) 748-2098
E-mail: chic@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
www.cmhc.ca