Palliative care in the GTA
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An alternative to traditional palliative care in Toronto and area is found in retirement homes throughout the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Retirement residences offer healthcare onsite in a homelike environment that many find to be an ideal compromise between time in a hospital or being home alone. Many retirement residences are equipped with fully functional health care teams made up of nursing staff (including RPNs and PSWs), pharmacists and on-call doctors. Healthcare facilities also include adjustable beds and call bells, with extras like onsite spas and the ability to hire in-home care services that augment care further. Many care homes offer more dedicated care that may include assistance with various tasks of daily living.
Consult with homes below to learn about palliative care options in the GTA.
Residences with Hospice Care in the Greater Toronto Area
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FEATURED
Baycrest Terraces
55 Ameer Avenue, Toronto,
Ontario, M6A 2Z1
We are Toronto's Finest Kosher Retirement Residence located on the Baycrest campus. We offer Independent & Assisted Living and Memory Care. Baycrest Terraces, "Where Life Thrives". Call us today for more information.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
FEATURED
The Briton House
720 Mt. Pleasant Road, Toronto,
Ontario, M4S 2N7
Family-owned and operated, the Briton House is dedicated to the highest standards of service. Offering a full continuum of care, a variety of amenities and suites, home-cooked meals, and a 15,000 sq. ft. indoor garden.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
FEATURED
Sagecare 147 Elder Street
147 Elder Street, Toronto,
Ontario, M3H5G9
Enlightened dementia care touches more than memory. 147 Elder St. is a place that provides opportunities for the joy and meaning still ahead when wellbeing can no longer be realized at home.
Lifestyle Options: Memory Care
FEATURED
Queens Estate Retirement Residence - Metta Lifestyles
265 Queens Drive, Toronto,
Ontario, M6L 3C6
At Queens Estate, we offer a complete range of care services in a welcoming environment. Whether it's our compassionate staff, fresh homemade meals, or exciting and engaging activities, you will truly feel at home.
Lifestyle Options: Assisted Living, Memory Care
FEATURED
The Dunfield Retirement Residence
77 Dunfield Avenue, Toronto,
Ontario, M4S 2H3
The Dunfield Retirement Residence has established a new standard in senior retirement living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with 177 spacious apartments. Where people come to LIVE!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
FEATURED
Greenview Seniors Residence - Metta Lifestyles
880 Lawrence Ave E, North York,
Ontario, M3C1P6
At Greenview Residence, we offer a complete range of care services in a welcoming environment. Whether it's our compassionate staff, fresh homemade meals, or exciting and engaging activities, you will truly feel at home.
Lifestyle Options: Assisted Living, Memory Care
The Village of Humber Heights
2245 Lawrence Avenue West, Etobicoke,
Ontario, M9P 3W3
The Village of Humber Heights in Etobicoke offers different levels of service from independent apartments with meals to assisted living to long-term care.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Long-term care
Hazelton Place Retirement Residence
111 Avenue Road, Toronto,
Ontario, M5R 3J8
Luxury and quality is in every corner of Hazelton from its lobby to its inviting Bistro & Bar. Offering amenities and services, Hazelton makes it easy for you to define and enjoy your lifestyle.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Delmanor Wynford
187 Wynford Drive, North York,
Ontario, M3C 0C7
A full service 5-star retirement community centrally located in Toronto - features extensive common areas, a rooftop putting green and a variety of other amenities catering to today's active seniors.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living
Parkland on Eglinton West
4650 Eglinton Ave. W., Etobicoke,
Ontario, M9A 0E3
Parkland on Eglinton West offers Lifestyle Apartments, All-Inclusive Lifestyle and Supportive Lifestyle options for seniors. Parkland makes it easy for you to do more of what you love!
Lifestyle Options: Apartments, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
The following communities are just outside of Toronto proper
FEATURED
McCowan Retirement Residence - Metta Lifestyles
2881 Eglinton Avenue East, Scarborough,
Ontario, M1J 0A2
McCowan Retirement Residence is a vibrant and family oriented retirement home located in Scarborough. With team members who have been here since we opened in 2004, you can expect a warm welcome and a feeling of home.
Lifestyle Options: Apartments, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
FEATURED
Sifton - Erinview
2630 Fifth Line west, Mississauga,
Ontario, L5K 0A8
Located in the heart of Mississauga, Erinview offers an atmosphere of worry-free, comfortable living with personalized support in the presence of good friends.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
FEATURED
Aspira Bolton Mills Retirement Living
100 Morra Avenue, Bolton,
Ontario, L7E4K5
A short drive from the Nashville Conservation Reserve and surrounded by golf courses, Aspira Bolton Mills is perfect for anyone who loves the outdoors.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living
FEATURED
The Village of Erin Meadows
2930 Erin Centre Boulevard, Mississauga,
Ontario, L5M 7M4
Mississauga's unique continuum of care featuring a vibrant Main Street with Independent Living Suites, Retirement Apartments, Full Service Suites, Assisted Care, Memory Care and Long Term Care.
Lifestyle Options: Apartments, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
FEATURED
The Village of Taunton Mills
3790 Brock Street North, Whitby,
Ontario, L1R 0H2
The Village of Taunton Mills in Whitby presents several levels of service from seniors' apartments with full kitchens, retirement apartments with meals and services to memory care, assisted living and long-term care.
Lifestyle Options: Apartments, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
Scarborough Retirement Residence
148 Markham Road, Scarborough,
Ontario, M1M 2Z8
Scarborough Retirement Residence offers a variety of suites and apartments, with a library, pharmacy, seniors' centre, shopping, theatre and more nearby.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
VIVA Thornhill Woods
9700 Bathurst Street, Vaughan,
Ontario, L6A 4V2
Vaughan's premier all-inclusive rental retirement community! Enjoy bright, spacious suites, modern amenities, delicious dining, and a Team devoted to Making Today Great! for you and your family! Book your tour today!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Richmond Hill Retirement Residence
70 Bernard Avenue, Richmond Hill,
Ontario, L4C 0W7
Richmond Hill Retirement Residence offers full service including meals, housekeeping, active adult, independent and assisted living. Our focus is on maintaining good health, great food, new friends & lots of laughter!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living
VIVA Pickering
1880 Glengrove Road, Pickering,
Ontario, L1V 0C6
V!VA Pickering is Durham's premier all-inclusive rental retirement community! Enjoy large suites, great amenities, delicious dining, and a Team devoted to Making Today Great for you and your family! Book your tour today!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Parkland on the Glen
1665 The Collegeway, Mississauga,
Ontario, L5L 0A9
Parkland is located at Mississauga and The Collegeway next to the Glenerin Inn. We are surrounded by beautiful green space. For the past 6 years we've been awarded one of the top 3 Retirement Communities in Mississauga.
Lifestyle Options: Apartments, Independent Living, Assisted Living
VIVA Mississauga
5575 Bonnie Street, Mississauga,
Ontario, L5M 0N8
Mississauga's premier all-inclusive rental retirement community. Enjoy bright, spacious suites, modern amenities, delicious dining, and a Team devoted to Making Today Great! for you and your family! Book your tour today!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
VIVA Whitby Shores
51 Whitby Shores Greenway, Whitby,
Ontario, L1N 9R1
Enjoy a lakeside lifestyle with modern amenities and a warm, welcoming team ready to meet your every need.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
VIVA Oakville
1 Sixteen Mile Drive, Oakville,
Ontario, L6M 1P3
Now Open! Exclusive membership meets all-inclusive living at Oakville's newest retirement community. V!VA Oakville elevates retirement living to new heights with unmatched amenities, services and style. Tour today!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
The Village of Tansley Woods
4100 Upper Middle Road, Burlington,
Ontario, L7W 4W8
At The Village of Tansley Woods, we offer the full continuum of care - Independent Living Suites, Retirement Apartments, Full Service Retirement Suites, Assisted Care, Memory Care and Long Term Care all in one village.
Lifestyle Options: Apartments, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
The Elden of Bradford
3131 8th Line, Bradford,
Ontario, L3Z 4H2
Voted Bradford's Favourite Retirement Residence 4 years in a row, we are the perfect place for young-at-heart seniors who are seeking an exciting lifestyle. Call it UN-Retirement Living! Independent and Assisted Living.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Advantages of palliative care in a retirement residence
Palliative care homes in Toronto may offer care that is more accountable than that offered by other services or public health care.
Care offered by privatized seniors' care facilities focuses on alleviating suffering for those who may have a terminal diagnosis or other serious illness that may include any or all of the following:
- Onsite nursing staff professionally trained in end-of-life care
- Help with secondary health services including transfer care, catheter care, feeding assistance and any other extended services you or your loved one may require. Traditionally associated with assisted living care, these services are very likely to be offered by homes with hospice or palliation.
- Professional liaising with families and other caregivers. The extended accountability offered by a private care home ensures that family has recourse to make personal appeals and to make sure they get the care they have been promised.
- Meals, housekeeping and laundry services. Meals are often exceptionally good in retirement residences listed here at Comfort Life, quite different from hospital food. Little luxuries like this make life better for those in hospice.
When family gives elderly loved ones the best care available, there is much more satisfaction both short term and long term. For example, Sandy moved her mom into local privatized memory care facilities for hospice care; as she told us, the extra cost was worth it for the peace of mind. "You want to have that feeling of doing your best for your parents… My mom was the best mother in the world. I wanted her to be in a place that's clean and new and near my home."
An inside look at palliative care in Toronto retirement homes
Carol Anne is one member of nursing staff we spoke to, working out of a retirement home in Scarborough. She tells us, "We care very deeply about palliative and hospice care clients. We've experienced many different types of cases and personalities. As nursing staff, we accept the fact that our kind of care is more about helping patients find comfort in little things and to feel as well as they can under the circumstances. We know we're not focused on restoring people to health."
Care at these retirement homes extends beyond the perfunctory or clinical, as well. As Carol Anne says, "We can instigate conversations that others may not feel comfortable with, and this is in fact one of the great joys of the hospice care we offer. We can deal with supposed taboos like some of their last wishes, or their need to deal with end of life questions. We provide other care beyond merely nursing."
The environment in Toronto senior care homes is also more conducive to helping palliative care patients open up about things and deal with their situation. There are many spiritual and emotional benefits to being around people their own age, in a community of people who are, for all intents and purposes, also nearing the end of their lives.
Read retirement home reviews in the GTA before you commit to any community or care.
The bigger picture
For sure, people seeking palliative or hospice care in Toronto and the rest of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) have a wealth of options, including some of the finest health care facilities in the world. However, those places are in high demand, often with waiting lists to get in, and additional wait times to get the proper care hoped for.
Toronto families and residents seeking palliative and hospice care are well advised to contact their Local Health Integration Network to find out their best options and consider alternatives to traditional care models. And as people vet their options, palliative care offered by retirement homes should be mixed in with other ideas. Checking out seniors' homes near you may open your eyes to the option of luxurious care that is also robust and ideally prepared to meet your needs at this challenging time.
