What is the difference between Long-Term Care and a Retirement Home?

Long-term care and Retirement homes may appear similar when you begin your elder care search, but they differ in many important areas that are important to understand when considering your care options.

Long-Term Care

Long-Term Care homes, sometimes referred to as nursing homes, are designed to provide care and support to people who require a high level of medical and/or personal care. Most residents are elderly, though in Ontario you are eligible for long-term care once you turn 18 years old.

Features of Long-Term Care:

• 24-hour nursing and personal care services.
• Assistance with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating.
• Medical and healthcare services, including medication administration.
• Specialized care for residents with dementia or other cognitive impairments.
• Regular supervision and monitoring of residents' health conditions.

Funding for long-term care is subsidized by the Provincial Government, and admission is based on an assessment of the individual's care needs and eligibility criteria through Ontario Health atHome. Long-Term Care homes may be for-profit or not-for-profit.

The maximum rate a Long-Term Care home can charge is set by the provincial government. As of July 1, 2024 the maximum rates for Long-Term Care in Ontario are:

• $2,909.36/month for a Private Room
• $2,455.24/month for a Semi-Private Room
• $2,036.40 /month for a Basic Room

Retirement Home

Retirement homes are typically intended for seniors who are relatively independent and do not require 24/7 medical care. Retirement homes aim to provide a community living environment for seniors who may need help with day-to-day tasks, are looking to downsize, or are seeking a socially engaging lifestyle at their fingertips.

In Ontario Retirement Homes are regulated by the Retirement Homes Act, 2010 (RHA). Retirement homes that meet the definition in the RHA are required to be licensed by the Retirement Home Regulatory Authority (RHRA) to operate as a retirement home. The RHA defines a retirement home as a residential complex or part of a residential complex that is:

• occupied primarily by persons who are 65 years of age or older, AND
• occupied or intended to be occupied by at least six persons not related to the operator, AND
• where the operator makes at least two care services (listed in the RHA and its regulation, O.Reg. 166/11) available to residents

According to the RHA “care service” means:

• Assistance with bathing
• Assistance with personal hygiene
• Assistance with ambulation
• Assistance with feeding
• Provision of skin and wound care
• Continence care
• Administration of drugs or another substance
• Provision of a meal
• Dementia care program
• Assistance with dressing
• Any service that a member of the Ontario College of Pharmacists provides while engaging in the practice of pharmacy
• Any service that a member of the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario provides while engaging in the practice of medicine
• Any service that a member of the College of Nurses of Ontario provides while engaging in the practice of nursing

Features of Retirement Homes:

• Independent living with private apartments or suites.
• Some assistance with daily living activities may be available, but not to the same extent as in long-term care.
• Social and recreational activities to promote an active lifestyle.
• Various amenities such as dining services, housekeeping, and transportation.

Retirement homes are free to set their own rates for occupancy and services, which are not Provincially subsidized. Rates vary based on the retirement home, the suite being rented, and the services required. Residents have the choice to purchase a care service from the retirement home if offered, or to access external care (publicly funded, e.g. home and community care, or private pay) and these options must be allowed by a home.

It's important to note that while retirement homes offer a more independent lifestyle with some medical support, they are not typically equipped to provide the same level of medical care and assistance as Long-Term Care homes.

The choice between long-term care and a retirement home depends on the individual's health needs, budget, level of independence, and preferences for community living.