Start with the width your parent actually needs. Most wheelchairs and walkers want a clear opening of about 32 inches or more, and the clear width is what counts after the door and stops are in place, not the frame size on paper. A good contractor will measure the real opening and the turning space on either side, because a wider door doesn't help much if the hallway approach is cramped.
Before you commit to full widening, ask about offset (swing-clear) hinges. In our experience they're the smartest first move in a lot of Edmonton homes, especially condos and newer builds in areas like Windermere or Summerside where framing is tight and walls may hide plumbing or wiring. Offset hinges swing the door fully clear of the opening and can add a couple of inches for a fraction of the cost and mess. If that gets you the clearance you need, take it. The trade-off is honest: on a very narrow original doorway, hinges alone won't be enough, and you'll want the frame properly widened.
That's where the older stock matters. Character homes in Glenora, Highlands, and Old Strathcona often have narrow doorways in load-bearing walls or walls carrying utilities. Widening those means checking the structure first, which is a job for a licensed, insured contractor who has done accessibility work for seniors, not a general handyman. Ask about permits, whether the wall is load-bearing, and how they'll handle any electrical or plumbing they find. Confirm the finish work too, since Edmonton's dry winters and forced-air heating can make cheap patch-and-paint jobs crack.
Our recommendation: try offset hinges first, and move to full door widening in Edmonton only when the clearance still falls short. It saves money and disruption for many families. The trade-off is a possible second visit if hinges don't do enough, but you'll know quickly, and you won't have opened a wall you didn't need to.
