Finding a Retirement Home

What to consider when searching for senior housing

Retirement homes appeal to people who can live independently but want to live among other seniors. These residences are designed and built to cater to the desires and lifestyles of seniors, and offer accessible accommodations where mature individuals can feel safe yet remain active.

Here’s a primer on what you’ll find in a typical retirement home:

Some distinguishing features of retirement homes:

• Vary greatly in size, accommodations, services and amenities
• Privately owned, but include both for-profit and not-for-profit operators
• Retirement home residents have a great degree of independence, are free to come and go without supervision, and have locks on their doors
• Typically a private suite with an ensuite washroom
• Some rooms are equipped with kitchenette, but residences also feature common dining rooms
• Services generally include 24-hour supervision, meal preparation, laundry/housekeeping, medication distribution and assistance with daily living activities
• Option to purchase additional support services as needs and preferences change
• Recreational and social programs
• Some offer light levels of care, others can cater to seniors with mild cognitive impairment
• Some offer "assisted living programs" in a number of units that provide an increased level of medical and personal care
• Some allow small pets
• Great deal of personal choice and options
• Waiting lists are more the exception than the rule
• Private pay, with generally no government subsidy for accommodation or care

Some positives of retirement homes

Many people are leery of even considering life inside a retirement residence, holding a stereotypical view of "nursing homes." However, you need to think about positive things that retirement homes offer:

• There are opportunities for companionship and socializing.
• Residents are encouraged to bring some home furnishings.
• Residents have a lot of independence and privacy but live in a safe environment.
• Individuals in retirement residences are eligible to apply to a Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) for medical or other personal help, just as when they were living in their own homes.
• Some retirement residences offer different levels of support services or are attached to a long-term care community, and it may be possible to transfer as more care is required.
• After factoring in the cost of property taxes, home maintenance and other current living expenses, the cost of residing in many retirement residences is comparable.

Absolute musts when considering a retirement home

• Plan ahead: research the option of a retirement home before you need it and discuss it with family members.
• Write down your needs and wants, and explore whether the residence you are considering can meet them.
• Visit each residence on your list. Go back for a second look.
• Ask to see the kitchen.
• Get a sample of menus.
• Ask for a schedule of the recreational activities.
• Go off the beaten track and check out places like stairwells. Are they clean?
• Ask staff lots of questions.
• Talk to current residents.
• Request references.