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Congregate care facilities combine some aspects of independent living with services such as security and care as well as close community. Typically, congregate care facilities are institutional-style facilities that may offer personal care services, rehabilitation, chapel or other spiritual services and many other support services.
Seniors who are still independent but with some health-related issues may be good candidates for congregate living retirement homes. Congregate care homes are almost exclusively rental at a per month rate but some facilities offer ownership or subsidisation options.
Living in congregate housing
In congregate housing retirement communities, residents will have their own unit or room within the home. Staff will be on hand to help residents and provide services to help them remain as independent as possible. Staff may include any nurses and social workers. The services provided by staff are available to residents but since they are shared by the entire community care costs are not very high.
The cost of congregate housing in Canada typically ranges from $1200 to $2000 per month although far more expensive homes can also be found (offering more care or luxury or located in more expensive areas of Canada, that is).
Typical services offered are:
- Shared or communal meals
- Essential housekeeping
- Secured building
- Staff on duty 24 hours a day
- Communal areas where residents socialise with each other
- Planned social activities
Congregate living and your other options
On a continuum of retirement independence, congregate living would fall between independent living retirement homes and assisted living. Some congregate living homes are still close in kind to traditional nursing homes in Canada. Congregate housing is ideal for seniors who will benefit from the easy availability of help but can spend much of their day independently.
Congregate living also goes by various other names including:
- Supported housing
- Life-care homes
- Enriched housing
- Single room occupancy housing
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