In 2006, approximately 71% of the seniors' population lived in homes that they owned. An estimated 19% resided in rental accommodation and about 7% lived in provincial housing settings, including seniors' lodges. Approximately 3% of seniors lived in long-term care facilities (see Chart 6).

The percentage of home ownership among seniors was higher than the Alberta population as a whole. Home ownership was linked to location with a higher percentage of rural seniors being owners as compared to renters, while the opposite was true for urban seniors.

Of seniors who owned their homes, only 20% had a mortgage in 2006. In comparison, 62.1% of all Alberta homeowners had a mortgage. While seniors were more likely to be mortgage-free than other Albertans, the proportion of seniors with a mortgage has been steadily rising over the past three census periods, increasing 8% since 1996.

Chart 6
Estimated Distribution of Seniors by Type of Residence

Source: Statistics Canada, 2006 Census of Canada Custom Tabulations; Alberta Health and Wellness, 2006 Administrative Data; Alberta Seniors and Community Supports, 2006 Administrative Data.

The majority of seniors (61%) living in private households resided in single-family detached houses, as did the Alberta population as a whole. However, seniors were more likely to live in a high-rise apartment building than non-seniors. One-quarter of senior households lived in an apartment, including multi-storied apartment buildings or a detached duplex apartment. The remaining senior households lived in a semi-detached house, a row house or a movable dwelling.

Approximately 7% of seniors accessed provincial housing programs in 2006. This included more than 14,000 seniors in self-contained subsidized rental accommodations and over 9,000 seniors in the lodge and cottage programs.

Back to Housing