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• 55 Plus

55 Plus Communities in Ontario

Here is your complete guide to retirement lifestyle communities in Ontario

When you are 50 to 55 and older, your life changes and you start looking for something different. Active adult lifestyle communities, spread across the province but found in many of the most desirable locations, offer the change you are looking for: freedom from a mortgage, freedom from noise and clutter of some other neighbourhoods, and freedom to travel.

Cities and towns throughout Ontario have exclusive communities designed for those 50 and older. Many of these are found in the most desirable places to retire in the province, places like Collingwood and the Bright's Grove area of Lake Huron, as well as the Greater Toronto Area. 

55 and older communities: pros and cons

There are many advantages of buying into a community restricted to those 50 and older. In brief, the pros are as follows:

• Live in a community of people your own age and your own lifestyle.
• Security, so you can "lock and leave" at your own discretion
• Beautiful locations
• The active lifestyle within the community, where there are structured activities and a ready-made peer group in which to share those activities.

We cover the advantages much more fully on our active adult lifestyle section.

Are there pitfalls, and if so, what are the pitfalls of buying into a retirement village like this?

These communities and leasing arrangements are structured with certain people in mind. Some potential cons are as follows:

• There are monthly fees and recurrent charges that may be part of life in the community, but you are receiving services for these costs. Many people who live in these 55 or 50 plus communities are perfectly happy with this arrangement. The only drawback to this is that you may be paying for services that you are not using.  You need to go in with your eyes wide open so you know what you are getting for your money. You don't want to move into a village, sign a contract with monthly maintenance fees for facilities that you rarely use. This lifestyle really is ideal for active adults.
• Misconceptions about retirement villages.  These communities do not offer care of any kind. If you are a person whose health is failing, then this type of community may not be what you require. Don't mistake this for an independent senior living retirement home.
• Contracts, fine print and unexpected fees. Again, you need to read the contract closely to make sure you know what you are paying for and what you are receiving. Go over it with a lawyer, if you need to. Be sure to look for things like departure fees, as well as maintenance fees or other aspects that the community's ownership has put into the contract. 

The fact is that many people who move into a 55 plus community in Ontario are perfectly happy with the choice they made, and they feel that the pros greatly outweigh any cons.  

Costs associated with 55 and over communities across Ontario

This is a brief sampling of some prices for retirement lifestyle communities in the province.

The price variation is considerable, as you will note, and hinges on what you are actually getting, depending on (for example) whether you own the land or if the housing corporation retains ownership, how much you are paying fees, and other factors.

Before you look any further, check out reviews of adult lifestyle in central Ontario or find the best communities for active seniors in SW Ontario.

The legality of 50 or 55 plus age restrictions in Ontario

You might see communities leery of promoting themselves as 55 plus communities for fear of human rights violations. The phrase "active lifestyle" or "active adult lifestyle" is more often used and more subtle. However, the legality of age restriction has, in fact, been upheld in an Ontario court in the case of Freeman v. March of Dimes Canada. The plaintiff sued the March of Dimes for discrimination based on the fact that he was a 48 year old trying to get housing in a non-profit facility restricted to those 50 and older. The Ontario Human Rights Tribunal called the case "non-substantive," and it did not constitute discrimination.¹

Moving to, or within, the province when you are 55 and older

There are a number of reasons people move to Ontario, perhaps most often to be closer to their children and grandchildren. If that describes you, there is a lot of advice you should be seeking about life in the province. Some things to consider are as follows:

Healthcare in the province is covered by the Ontario Hospital Insurance (OHIP). When you move to the province, OHIP will assume coverage of your healthcare, and coverage may be different from what you are used to in your previous place of residence. You can read about OHIP coverage from the Ontario Ministry of Health. It's definitely worthwhile to read up on this before you move into the province so that you fully understand how coverage works for any of your own specific health concerns.

Find the best places to retire in SW Ontario or in all Ontario

Since you are moving here to retire, and you will be aging here, you should sooner or later learn all you can about health care in the province and how it affects those who are aging. The province has an Action Plan (updated for 2015) that covers senior friendly communities, changes to long term care over the coming years, and more. You might think you're too young to concern yourself, but you won't be forever!

Gated communities in Ontario

There are a growing number of gated communities in Ontario. the big advantage that these communities offer is security, creating an ideal situation for people who like to snowbird in winter. People who travel frequently or are away for extended periods of time can "lock and leave" their home, free of worry about break-ins or any other intrusions or security breaches.

Find an exclusive list of gated communities in Ontario.

¹Hoffer, Joe, "Yes! You Can Restrict Rentals to the 'Over 50' Crowd!" Building Blocks. Aug 2014. s3.amazonaws.com/../1410192507_BB_August2014_LR.PDF