Independent Living for Seniors

Independent living provides a maintenance-free lifestyle designed for active seniors who want to spend more time with others their own age, doing what they enjoy, while leaving mundane tasks like housework, cooking, home maintenance and more to other people.

There are a number of typical advantages to independent living that encourage people to make the move into a retirement home. Typically, these are:

• Remain together as a couple. Barb, a retirement home administrator, tells us: "Sometimes we'll have a couple where one spouse is in long term care, and the other spouse doesn't want to have to be traveling all the time, though they're still quite capable." In this case, a seniors' home with independent living offers a way for the couple to remain close together under one roof. Homes with a complete spectrum of care, continuing care communities, are especially favourable in this situation.
• Community: Friendship and community is an under-appreciated aspect of life in senior independent living retirement homes. When people choose to remain in their own home, they get used to things like loneliness, which can be detrimental to your well-being. Move into an independent living and you're never isolated. You just open your door and there's someone to chat with. Of course, you don’t necessarily have to socialize, but you have that choice, now. In any case, living in community with people your own age makes it easy to make friends. Read more testimonials below to learn how much people love this.
• It makes life easier! The relaxing lifestyle takes care of everyday tasks for you. Some people will say, "I've got the money, why not have somebody plan my menu for me. I don't want to worry about driving to the store anymore. It just makes everything so much easier." Many people have been living in their home for a long time and, as they age, they slow down and don't want the responsibility of maintaining a large home and/or a large property. Unused rooms or areas of the house (the basement, etc.) may become an unnecessary burden.
• Peace of mind: You should feel comfortable knowing that someone is always available to help you when needed. For those who have had a fall, illness or other near miss, these situations can understandably leave you feeling vulnerable. There are other vulnerabilities faced by seniors when they choose to remain at home alone, including being targeted by crime, scams, etc. These susceptibilities are alleviated when you move into the safe and secure environment of a retirement residence.
• Health concerns. Mobility or other health concerns can arise, and these are taken care of when you move into a retirement home. In your traditional family home, stairs become a health or fall hazard. Another concern for some seniors is driving. These potential hazards become a thing of the past when you move into an independent living home where everything you need is under one roof.

Take a full look at all the pros and cons of moving into independent living.

Independent living retirement homes' safety

Many of the independent living retirement homes listed on ComfortLife have excelled at keeping residents safe throughout the pandemic. Of course, they’re patently designed and built to do just that, but not enough attention has been given to strict protections of seniors in retirement homes. Retirement communities’ ability to remain entirely free of COVID-19 is indeed remarkable. Residents here duly praise communites for keeping them safer than they would be on their own. As one senior in a Burlington retirement home has told us, “It’s good for us to be here. [At our age], we have a tendency to be careless, [especially] if you are all alone. But here the regular demonstrations help us be safe. There is freedom in the restrictions.” 

Here’s a look at increased safety measures taken by independent living retirement homes.

• Increased sanitization: Many retirement homes have added extra sanitizing procedures, including the hiring of extra staff to help. Reception desks and other high-contact areas are sanitized, in addition to the installation of plexiglass barriers. 
• Twice daily temperature checks are instituted at many retirement communities.  
• Temperature screening of all visitors, and health declaration forms. Retirement homes require all visitors and family members to sign a declaration that they are in good health and symptom-free. 
• Physical distancing throughout the home. Dining has been re-introduced in some communities, but residents still remain at a distance from each other. Exercise class times have been increased, so residents can take part while still remaining socially distanced. Small and well-spaced groups of activities remain intact to keep spirits up and maintain the social life that many hold dear. 
• Designated elevators and spacing. Visitors to communities are often required to use a specially reserved elevator and entryway. Physical distancing and occupancy limits in elevators are also strictly enforced. Elevators are sanitized frequently throughout the day. 
• Mandatory masking for all. Every retirement home requires employees to wear masks throughout the day. All retirement homes in Ontario require any visitors to wear masks, and residents will also routinely wear masks.
• Travel restrictions. Residents in many communities are required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon leaving and returning to the building, from anywhere. This meant, even if they went to visit family, during the early months of the pandemic. Of course, if they traveled, a self-quarantine was legally required.

Independent living communities on Comfort Life tell what life is like under quarantine, in a transparent effort to not only assure family members and others, but as a matter of course. Visit community pages linked to above, and see how many of them report this under a heading special to their Comfort Life profile, called "what life looks like now."

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The majority of independent living retirement homes are rental units, but you may be able to purchase some units or (on another hand) receive subsidized housing. The cost of retirement homes is based on a number of factors, including the types of amenities and services involved and, more importantly, where the community is located.

A diversity of independent living seniors retirement homes can be found across Canada. Rates you pay will depend on the quantity and quality of the services and it's important you find out everything included in monthly fees. Making an informed decision about your independent living community is a very important step and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

Below, we survey costs associated with independent living care in cities across Canada. The number given is a median price, as of 2019.:

Paying

Many people are surprised at what they can afford when they look at what they might consider a “high end” independent senior living home. Here are some factors to consider:

• All your costs fit under one umbrella monthly payment. You no longer have to pay for food, utilities, property taxes and all those other monthly and yearly bills that you have to pay when you remain in your own home.
• You may have more resources at hand than you realize. Typically, seniors in Canada have Old Age Security (OAS) and Canada Pension Plan (CPP) benefits and other income such as a work pension plus savings and equity from the sale of their family home. You might also consider the benefits of reinvesting money (among other options). Learn more in our fuller discussion of how people pay for senior care.

The costs of aging at home

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When people sit down and do the math, they are often surprised that the move into a senior living retirement home is affordable and well within their means. We offer a close look at some of the costs of aging at home vs. moving into independent living.

There's a coveted simplicity to this one-cost-to-cover-all approach, in that you will never again have to worry about individual bills, whether they have been paid, where the receipts are, etc.

That's just one more aspect of the independence created within one of these communities.

Ownership vs. renting

Some retirement village style residences do offer the option of ownership. This may be structured much like a townhouse or condominium ownership, where you purchase your suite and pay other fees. See communities listed on this page for more details.

Be sure to consider the benefits of various retirement home ownership options before you decide against the idea of renting. It is generally considered wise to own over renting but there comes a point in time where this is not certainly the case. For people of a certain age, it can be wise to rent, and invest your left over equity and savings elsewhere.

• Residential amenities: These may include arts and crafts rooms, common rooms, dining rooms, libraries, computers, and exercise rooms. These make your new home more like a small community than a typically isolated residence.
• Keeping busy: Most independent living seniors' residences offer plenty of programs and activities. Think brain games, fitness, billiards, movie nights, and bingo.
• Safety and Security: Your independent living retirement home will provide round-the-clock security (i.e. surveillance cameras, guards, authorized visits), as well as emergency procedures. Your suite will almost certainly have an emergency call bell or phone system. A dedicated on-site staff will be available to assist you at all hours of the day and night.
• Privacy in your own suite or apartment. Studio apartments in one of these “senior villages” (as they might sometimes be called) can include their own kitchenette or kitchen, where you can prepare your own meals.
• Meal preparation will often be communal also, with some meals offered daily, along with snacks and other foods.
• Some support services and home care may also further augment the residence's list of offerings. In some independent living communities you can add support services like medication administration or other personal assistance. These might be billed on a per-service basis, allowing you to remain where you are, without requiring a move to assisted living.

In many cases, the move into an independent living suite can mediate the move into further care as time goes on. It may be that someone moves into independent living and after some time, they have increasing needs. Many retirement homes are able to accommodate their changed needs and meet a person's growing needs where they are.

As Barb tells us, "We have residents who were independent but are having trouble getting washed and dressed on a daily basis… and we put it back to the resident and their family what works best for them. In some cases, a resident may say 'I've lived here for five years, I've got all my friends here, can you bring those services to me. We address what our customers want and fit into their lifestyle."

Ten questions to think about as you are reviewing residences near you:

• What breadth of care do you ultimately want available? There are residences that are independent living only and others include a variety of care that may include memory care and long term care.
• How close to your current home do you want to live? Some seniors may not want to move far from their familiar neighborhood. Others may move closer to kids and grandchildren. There are independent living chains that allow people to move from one location to another to spend time in different residences.
• What is the community's reputation like? Check the community' inspection records and other available reports. Read reviews of retirement homes.
• How do residents feel about living there? You may be able to talk to some of them to find out how they feel, but you may also be able to find out things like participation-rates for activities, another indicator of overall satisfaction.
• What are the qualifications of management and staff? If some staff are not certified or professionally trained, find out why this is the case.
• Is it accredited, and by whom? (See more below about regulation.)
• Has it been well maintained? Buildings may be new or old but note how well-updated the grounds and the building are. Especially note how contemporary safety and accessibility features are.

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• Do the services and amenities the community offers appeal to you? If you are considering several retirement homes near you, do an explicit one-by-one comparison of features and options you care about.
• Who lives there? You may be interested in the ratio of female to male residents. You may be especially interested if there is anyone you know living there.
• What is included in the cost? Find out about extra costs and when they are applied. Get a copy of the contract and have someone (preferably a professional, even a lawyer) go over it with you to make sure you understand all the fine print.

Short term stays in independent living
Many people find it ideal to take a trial stay in a retirement home. This allows you to "test out" the care home and learn exactly what it's like to live there. There are a number of different cases where people can avail themselves of a short stay in independent living, including:

• A respite care stay is often for those regularly receiving care from a caregiver or home care provider. Many times, family is dedicated to keeping the elderly family member at home — at least for the time being. In these cases, though, a caregiving family member will need a break or perhaps a vacation. In this case, a short stay in a local retirement home is ideal. Most often, this will be in assisted living but not always.
• A short term senior care stay (aka convalescent care) in a retirement home is helpful in cases where a senior family member has had a health crisis. Perhaps this follows hospitalization but there are other cases where retirement homes will welcome a patient for a stay as short as 24 hours, or up to 90 days.

Provinces regulate retirement home ownership and rentals to varying degrees, and there are some differences in how retirement homes are operated and understood across Canada.

In British Columbia there is little or no regulation of independent senior living. The British Columbia Seniors Living Association (BCSLA). The BCSLA grants its Seal of Approval to homes that meet high industry standards. It's a membership-driven organization that is self-regulated. Homes that have the BCSLA Seal of Approval will have met multiple criteria in five important areas: safety measures, infection control, staff training, resident services and assisted living supports.

Many retirement homes offer independent living for seniors along with assisted living and further care. In this case, in BC, they are regulated under the Community Care and Assisted Living Act. The province of BC also has a Bill of Rights for Residents, pursuant to both this Act and the Hospital Act. This Bill of Rights provides people with a list of rights they can expect to have met in any type of care in the province. This Bill of Rights is available for download here. Find more information and a discrete list of British Columbia seniors' independent living.

Alberta's retirement homes are represented to a great degree by the Alberta Senior Citizens' Housing Association (ASCHA), an organization over 50 years old. It does not regulate homes but is focused on advocacy of the industry's owners and operators. It also publishes an annual report and bylaws. Resources on the ASCHA website will help you learn more about senior care in Alberta.

Since many homes that have independent living also have supportive living and deeper care options, some residents in independent living may be covered under Alberta's Protection for Persons in Care Act. Albert also has a Supportive Living Accommodation Licensing Act (first enforced in April 2010), which may apply to homes listed here if they have this level of care. This comprehensive Act offers specific prescriptions governing care home inspections and licensing. Under this Act, residents can register complaints and have these followed up. You can learn more at Acts S23P5. Find more information and a select list of Alberta independent living communities.

In Ontario, homes are inspected and licensed by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA). This was instituted in 2010 under the auspices of the province's Ontario's Retirement Homes Act, designed to protect the rights of all seniors' home residents. In addition, until April 2017, homes were accredited by ORCA, which (as of that date) retains a membership option. You might also consult the Residential Tenancies Act regarding lease laws as they apply to your suite in an independent living home. You can find a discrete list of independent care homes and further information about Ontario's senior independent living care, or find a list of Toronto senior independent living homes.

I do what I can about things and let the rest take care of itself.

Moving into an independent living retirement community is a proactive choice, a way of staying on top of things. As Reg D. puts it: "At some point, you know you’re going to have to deal with moving. Why not take it head on? I know what I like and what I don’t like," he says. "I was getting tired of some things about condo living. Here, I love that I don’t have to do stairs anymore!" In other words, he says, "be prepared!" (Read more about people proactively choosing independent living.)

There's a lot more to it than just that, of course. Seniors who've moved into an independent living retirement home are genuinely surprised by the features of this style of living.

For example, at one retirement home, a 24-hour tea room is loved by residents. One resident, Martha calls it "one of the best ideas ever... there’s always someone to chat with over a cup of tea."  Additions like this make retirement living today a great improvement over "homes" of the past, certainly, and also remaining at home.

The social aspect of living in one of these retirement homes is impossible to appreciate until you move into. This improves your well-being in ways that you cannot imagine, including the increased activity. As Jean in Vancouver has told us, "getting out and meeting people" with her retirement home friends, is "way better than sitting in a chair."

If you move to a different city, this can also be eye opening. Take for example, Rhena, who moved from a small town in Saskatchewan to Toronto. We "brought up four children there, but they all left for Toronto when they grew up." Her daughters moved her to a Toronto retirement home where she fell in love with the shops on Bloor Street and loves being close to her kids and grandkids. Nick, another resident of the same community loves the fact that inside his independent senior living retirement home, "I don’t have any worries."

Life inside of many retirement homes might be about making the best of things; in homes listed here at comfortlife.ca, though, it's often about simply having the best of things. Florence, a resident of an independent living home in Toronto, lived to be well over 100; as she told us, "I do what I can about things and let the rest take care of itself." You, too, might be surprised at how good it is to live inside one of today's seniors' communities.