As we age our needs and priorities evolve. For many seniors, there comes a time when the familiar comforts of their existing home might no longer align with their current lifestyle or health requirements. This opens the door to considering a retirement home - a decision that can be both practical and provide a renewed zest for life.

**1. The Lure of Simplified Living**

Retirement homes offer an environment where seniors can enjoy a low-maintenance, or even maintenance-free lifestyle. Daily chores like cleaning, cooking, and repairs are usually taken care of, allowing residents to invest their time in activities they enjoy. This shift from responsibility to relaxation is a significant draw for many.

**2. Understanding the Need for Change**

The golden years, often painted with the brush of relaxation and leisure, can also bring forth challenges that prompt a reevaluation of living arrangements. The maintenance of a household, once a manageable task, can become burdensome for seniors. Likewise, health concerns might necessitate a level of care and attention that is difficult to sustain in a conventional home setting.

**3. Enhanced Safety and Healthcare Access**

Safety and healthcare are paramount concerns as one ages. Retirement homes are designed with these needs in mind.  Although the specifics of care are individual to each home, many retirement homes are equipped with features like emergency call systems, and they are often staffed with trained healthcare professionals. This environment provides peace of mind, not only for the residents but also for their families.

**4. The Social Connection**

A lesser-discussed yet equally important aspect of moving into a retirement home is the social environment it fosters. Loneliness and isolation can be profound during senior years, especially if a spouse has passed away or family members live far. Retirement communities offer a built-in social network of peers, promoting interaction through organized activities and shared spaces, thus fostering a sense of community and belonging.

**5. Tailored to Individual Needs**

Retirement homes are not a one-size-fits-all solution. They offer varying levels of care, from independent living units to assisted living and memory care facilities. This customization ensures that each resident receives the support they need while maintaining as much independence as possible.

**6. A Renewed Sense of Purpose**

Moving into a retirement home can also provide a renewed sense of purpose and belonging. With activities and programs tailored to their interests, seniors can explore new hobbies, rekindle old passions, and engage in a community that shares similar experiences and stories.

**Conclusion**

The decision to move into a retirement home is deeply personal and often comes after much consideration. For many seniors, it marks the beginning of a new chapter filled with opportunities for comfort, care, and community. In the right retirement home a senior will not just find a place to live, but a place to thrive, surrounded by peers and supported by services that cater to their evolving needs. As we support our aging loved ones in considering the transition into a retirement home, it's essential to recognize that this move is not about stepping away from a past life, but rather stepping into a new phase of living with grace, dignity, and joy.


*With Elderado you can compare all 1,400 long-term care & retirement homes in Ontario.  [Get started HERE.](https://elderado.ca/get-started)*

6 Reasons to Move into 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](https://ontariohealthathome.ca/long-term-care/). 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)](https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/10r11). Retirement homes that meet the definition in the RHA are required to be licensed by the [Retirement Home Regulatory Authority (RHRA)](https://www.rhra.ca/en/) 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](https://www.rhra.ca/en/)) 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.



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

Navigating Long-Term Care can be difficult, we want to help you understand this process.  Currently the demand for Long-Term Care is greater than the number of beds available.  In Ontario we use waitlists, and spots in Long-Term Care are granted to people who have been assessed to have the greatest need, as opposed to strictly a first come, first serve basis.

# How to apply for Long-Term Care in Ontario

1. Determine Eligibility.
2. Review Long Term Care options.
3. Tour Long-Term Care homes.
4. Assessments & Forms.
5. Wait lists.
6. Bed offer.
7. Moving day.

## 1. Determine Eligibility

- You can work with a care coordinator to determine whether you are eligible for admission to a long-term care home
    - If you are at home contact [Ontario Health atHome (previosuly Home and Community Care Support Services](https://ontariohealthathome.ca/long-term-care/) by calling 310-2222 (no area code required)
    - If you are in the hospital, the hospital will have a care coordinator who can help you.
- You can refer yourself or be referred to a care coordinator by a family member, caregiver, physician, nurse or community worker

## 2. Review Long-Term Care options

- Use Elderado’s Elder Care search to identify the long-term care homes that are the best fit
    - Location, cultural designation, language of care, specialized dementia/Alzheimer’s care, facility size, sample menus & activity calendars, Inspection Report finding, and other criteria may be considered to identify the homes that would provide the best care & quality of life
- Utilize Elderado’s Contact buttons to reach out to homes directly to learn more and schedule an in-person tour

## 3. Tour Long-Term Care Homes

- Visit prospective Long-Term Care homes to get a sense of what life is like for residents
    - Ask for an information package
    - If the home has a Resident Council or Family Council, it can be very helpful if you ask to speak to members
- Come prepared with questions and concerns

## 4. Assessments & Forms


- Your care coordinator will complete assessments to determine whether you are eligible for admission
    - The decision to seek admission to a Long-Term Care home requires the voluntary and informed consent of a capable person.
- If you are determined to be eligible you will be assigned a Placement Priority Category, and you can be put on up to 5 waitlists for Long Term Care homes anywhere in Ontario
    - This maximum of 5 home waitlists does not apply to people who are assessed as needing an immediate long-stay admission because of a crisis in their condition or circumstances

## 5. Waitlists

- Before you can move into one of the Long-Term Care homes you have selected, you will likely need to wait on a waitlist until an appropriate bed becomes available
- Your care coordinator can provide more information on the current wait times for the homes you are considering


## 6. Bed Offer

- Your care coordinator will contact you when a bed becomes available in one of your chosen Long-Term Care homes
- You must make the decision to accept or refuse the bed within 24 hours of receiving the offer
    - If you choose to accept to offer you must move in within 5 days of acceptance
    - If you decline a bed offer your file will be closed and you will be removed from the waiting list of all your chosen homes. You will not be able to reapply until 12 weeks after the day you were removed from the waiting list.
        - If you decline a bed offer from a long-term care home while waiting in hospital, you will continue to remain on the waitlist for the long-term care homes you and the placement coordinator have selected


## 7. Moving Day

- On moving day transportation to the Long-Term Care home and any moving costs and arrangements will be your responsibility
- Some items you should bring immediately include:
    - Medication, Medication Administration Record, or a list of current medications from your local pharmacy
    - Ontario Health Care
    - 1 week's worth of clothing
    - Any assistive devices such as a wheelchair or walker (label them!)
    - Toiletries
    - Aids such as glasses, dentures, and hearing aids with extra batteries
    - Personal items such as photos, a blanket, or other small familiar articles

We encourage you to contact [Ontario Health atHome](https://ontariohealthathome.ca/long-term-care/) for the most current information about long-term care, the application process, and any questions you may have.



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6 Reasons to Move into a Retirement Home

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

Applying for long-term care in Ontario

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