ABBEYFIELD HOUSES SOCIETY
OF CANADA

Abbeyfield Houses exist to enable seniors to stay in their communities in safe, affordable, family-style shared housing designed to foster companionship and ward off social isolation.

Each Abbeyfield House balances residents’ privacy and companionship with security and independence in a caring group home environment, provided by dedicated volunteers and a live-in House Coordinator.  

Every House becomes a small community in its bigger community. Most have 15 or fewer residents. Rooms are usually private, with housekeeping and meals provided by a small staff. Meals are taken together, and everyday and special activities can become shared experiences in the common living space.

Each Abbeyfield resident lives in their private bed-sitting room furnished with their familiar things. Residents share lunch, dinner, and a self-serve breakfast from a well-stocked breakfast bar. Snacks, drinks and companionship are available throughout the day.

Like any family home, there is a communal lounge, dining room, kitchen and laundry and, in most Houses, a guest room for visitors. A House Coordinator attends to the daily House operations, including shopping for and preparing and serving meals, and overseeing maintenance of the house and grounds. 

Abbeyfield is non-denominational and open to any senior capable of independent living. Each Abbeyfield House is an incorporated not-for-profit entity overseen by an experienced volunteer board of directors. All Houses are affiliated with Abbeyfield Canada and are bound by its policies and guidelines. Abbeyfield Canada also provides resources and expertise.

In Canada, there are currently 19 Abbeyfield Houses, accommodating approximately 195 residents, in Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. New Abbeyfield Houses are under development and construction, and several more projects are in the planning stages.

Internationally, the Abbeyfield model is widespread, with about 800 Houses in countries such as Australia, Belgium, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United Kingdom

Time and again, Abbeyfield residents tell us their lives improved dramatically after moving into their Abbeyfield home. They value the companionship they have found and friends they have made. They speak of a sense of belonging, and many say they have found renewed energy and interest in life, through activities, events and shared experiences.

The Abbeyfield model is an inviting alternative to large, more impersonal retirement home settings where loneliness can still become an issue, or when living with relatives is not a viable option. It fills a need for independent seniors who are not quite ready for assisted living or long-term care but who, at the same time, no longer feel comfortable living on their own. 

Across Canada, rising housing costs disproportionately affect seniors, making it a challenge for many to find affordable housing. The rising cost of private seniors’ residences, low vacancy rates and a decline in government investment in social housing have reduced affordable housing options for Canadian seniors. As our population ages, this housing affordability challenge will only worsen. 

All these factors make the Abbeyfield model a beneficial addition to housing options for seniors, especially those with low incomes who live alone and who lack the support of a spouse or family member under the same roof.