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Vancouver retirement homes

A complete guide to finding a retirement community in the Vancouver area

With a stunning landscape that includes breathtaking views of the North Shore Mountains, scenic outlooks and an above average temperate climate (especially in winter months), the city of Vancouver provides an ideal setting for some of the country's premier retirements communities.

This is a guide to finding the right retirement home, created for those looking in the Vancouver area, (including North Vancouver, Coquitlam, Surrey, Richmond, and so on).

Throughout the suburbs of Vancouver there are also spectacular retirement residences, some of which may be less expensive than those closer to downtown and the ocean. There are several retirement residences in Surrey, including independent living, assisted living and other care variations.  Delta retirement communities are ideally located near parkland and the Fraser River, with easy access to many Vancouver attractions.  Burnaby’s senior care homes offer great scenery and world-class care. 

Types of senior care in Vancouver

Vancouver has a variety of retirement homes that offer a range of amenities to meet residents' health and lifestyle needs. The primary types are assisted living and independent living, to the left of the spectrum of care shown below. There are also homes with a full continuum of care available. For these types of communities, many residents can continue their range of care starting in an independent living suite and gradually move to assisted living — pacing their changing health needs over time. This, of course, means residents can maintain the company of friends and staff in spite of changing care needs. These are also ideal for Vancouver couples who have differing care needs.

For example, one couple we spoke to, John and Vera, was primarily concerned with finding a place for John, in the middle stage of dementia. But when they found a community that was ideally suited for his needs, Vera decided to check out the independent living community closely attached. She decided to make it her new home. "I like that I was able to visit him daily without leaving the property. I could see he was getting good care every day.” Moving into the community, she had her eyes opened to how wonderful life can be in a retirement home. "There’s so much to do here, she says. "And I don’t miss my home, cooking, housework and all that, not one bit." You can find many more stories like John and Vera’s linked to from our page of retirement home testimonials.

Availability and costs of retirement homes in Vancouver

Over the past few years, the demand for seniors housing has increased, dropping the vacancy rate from (for example) 11.4 percent in 2013 to 5.1% in 2020. The highest vacancy rate in 2020 was 7.6% in Okanagan/Thompson/Shuswap areas. In the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, provincial vacancy rates rose to 12.5% in 2021.

There were an additional 664 spaces added across BC in 2020. The majority of new spaces were added in the Vancouver Island/Central Coast region. The total number of seniors’ housing spaces, including independent living and heavy care spaces, increased to 33,320 units.

In 2020, the average rent in British Columbia was $3,364 per month. The Lower Mainland posted the highest rents at $3,722. In 2021, this rose to $3,971.

Currently there is no government funding for independent living residences in BC, however there is a BC Housing program called SAFER (Shelter for Elderly Renters) for seniors in need of financial help. Those who qualify can receive a rent subsidy based on their income. To learn more about the SAFER Program please visit bchousing.org.

To help pay for retirement care costs in Vancouver, many seniors use their pensions, RRSPs, CPP and other forms of income from second careers. Other seniors also combine profits from selling their homes and contributions from family. Determine how you can afford your ideal retirement community with our Retirement Cost Calculator.

Senior living in Vancouver

Vancouver’s senior living retirement communities encourage people to gain a new perspective on life. The best senior care providers in the city (like those listed above) create an environment where people rediscover passions and interests they may have set aside. While people are raising families, paying the mortgage and, well, working toward retirement, interests that are in fact self-sustaining take a back seat. And seniors living on their own find it difficult to break out of the spell of familiarity, whether for couples, or singles (including widows and widowers). Older people fall into a pattern of over-simplicity when healthy social interaction wanes. Cooking for one or two makes meals less appealing. Even as yardwork and housework becomes too much for them, they try to push on through.

When seniors move into a community, though, they find new opportunities for learning and change. These are multifarious:

• They can explore new interests through opportunities such as classes offered within the community.
• Outings to local activities and attractions help them expand their interests. There’s opportunities for interactions with other members of the community. Who doesn't need more friends?
• Amenities within retirement homes include spas, exercise rooms, swimming pools, etc., meeting grounds for friends, offering ways to get active as a natural part of a daily routine.

 

Read about others' renewed outlook on life, in Vancouver senior living retirement communities
Rest assured, though, that the move has many benefits that go well beyond simply getting care. Here’s a brief glance at several stories of renewal and enhanced life that come from people living in retirement communities:

• Katie began guitar lessons nearly two years ago, at the age of 87. This was an expression of Katie’s lifelong passion.Critical to Katie’s renewal of joy in music was the move into a seniors' community.
• Yul Kwon had a goal to win the Boston Marathon. He began running in his 60s, though he really started putting his energy behind the larger goals after he retired, and continued to chase his dream after moving into Westbrook Village Vancouver.
• At another r, Peter found that the community’s Fit Feb event was the motivation he needed to get active. He joined in and was given an “accountabilibuddy.”

“We find that many of our residents take on new challenges and participate in programs they never thought they would,” says Anna Louie, marketing director for PARC Retirement Living. Exercise and personal renewal are part and parcel of life in PARC communities across Greater Vancouver.

• Gerda, a 99 year old senior at Summerhill PARC is excited about exercising. “I stopped playing tennis at 93,” she says. But she still participates daily in Summerhill PARC’s LivingBalance program. “I go to exercise everyday,” says the near-centenarian. Rather than letting herself be forced to reckon with aging, she’s remained “a force to be reckoned with,” says PARC’s website.
• Bette at Westerleigh PARC in Vancouver likes to say that her life purpose is simple, “to be healthy and happy.” Like many others, Bette says that keeping their home and maintaining the life they were used to was indeed “just too much.” In her new home, she’s found that “there’s so much that goes on here.” She has much more freedom: “We can go on holidays when we want and I can visit my family. I just wouldn’t be able to do that if we were still living in a house.”

Read more about these and other residents of PARC who are living a better life in communities than they did on their own.

More about senior living in Vancouver
For those who are active and want to get out into the wider community and participate in events around Vancouver, the city has no shortage of activities for seniors, including:

• Museums, galleries and theatres
• Churches
• Festivals
• Historic sites
• Parks with walking and hiking areas 

There are many museums and art galleries in the downtown core and surrounding areas, such as the Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver Art Gallery, Vancouver Maritime Museum, and the Beaty Biodiversity Museum. The Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art and the Khlahowya Village in Stanely Park also offer galleries and displays of traditional Aboriginal artwork and a firsthand look at a rich and vibrant culture through performances, tours, cuisine and more in the Village. 

Vancouver’s art scene is also deeply ingrained in local theatre. The Queen Elizabeth Theatre, which houses the Vancouver Opera and Ballet British Columbia, provides one-of-a-kind masterpieces, while the Firehall Arts Centre sports more experimental performances and Arts Club Theatre Company delivers new performances and old theatre classics. 

Churches and places of worship in Vancouver include Westside Church, Coastal Church, St. John’s Vancouver Anglican Church, Vancouver Buddhist Temple, Zawiyah Foundation, and Vancouver Chinese Baptist Church, to name just a few. The city of Vancouver offers a wide range of religious services and locations for all faiths. 

Among some of the most popular annual festivals in Vancouver are the Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival in the summer, Vancouver Fringe Festival and CanWest Comedy Fest in the fall for theatre and comedy lovers, CelticFest Vancouver in mid-March, Caribbean Days Festival in late July, Vancouver Chinatown Festival in early August, and other cultural festivals throughout the year. Popular music and film festivals include the Vancouver International Jazz Festival in June/July, the Vancouver Chamber Music Festival in July, MusicFest Vancouver in August, and the Vancouver International Film Festival in September/October. Additional literary, performance, and food and drink festivals are also featured throughout the year. 

Those interested in exploring some history may like to check out Gastown, Vancouver’s oldest neighborhood with cobblestone streets, an antique steam clock, and plenty of charming little shops and restaurants. Britannia Shipyards, Forbidden Vancouver, and Roedde House Museum are also infamous destinations to explore and sightsee.

There are over 220 parks, 10 beaches and a beautiful freshwater lake to choose from within Vancouver to walk, bike or simply spend a nice afternoon relaxing with family and friends. A number of fitness centres, marinas, golf courses, and communities centres also offer activities and entertainment. Apart from golfing, cycling and walking in the plentiful parks, there are exciting whale watching trips and the Grouse Mountain SkyRide (with a Refuge for Endangered Wildlife), plus area arts and culture classes, workshops, luncheons, flea markets, and free movies. 

Retirement communities provide access and transportation to many of the above activities and services, as well as involving residents in organizing intra-community events and programs to enhance their experiences. 

Medical and safety services for Vancouver seniors

A range of services is available at Vancouver homes, including basic exercise programs, wellness centers, medical administration and supervision, and specialized programs for dietary and mobility restrictions. Care packages are provided based on the community type (assisted living communities have more care than independent living, for example). 

Streamlined access to outside medical care services can be arranged if the retirement residence is unable to provide the next level of care necessary. Many area hospitals have programs and expertise in caring for the elderly, including Mount Saint Joseph Hospital, Vancouver General Hospital, St. Paul’s Hospital, and Burnaby Hospital. Mount Saint Joseph Hospital has a number of outpatient clinics including a Falls and Fracture Prevention Clinic, Thyroid Clinic, Mental Health and Wellness Clinic and Physiotherapy Outpatient Service while Vancouver General Hospital offers community care services such as group programs for seniors and occupational and physical therapy. 

St. Paul’s Hospital, which provides an Elder Care Ambulatory Clinic and a Falls and Fracture Prevention Clinic, also has a Center for Healthy Aging and hosts a number of events open to the general public surrounding healthy aging. Burnaby Hospital has many educational resources available for seniors and their families, plus Advanced Care Planning and convalescent care. (After your hospital stay, you can consider  the value of convalescent care in a retirement home.)

Additional acute care programs, older adult mental health services and rehabilitation services are also available at these hospitals and in the surrounding area. Vancouver retirement communities can help you arrange additional services as necessary and coordinate transportation to any of the Vancouver community centres that offer senior 55+ programs and services such as a senior centre with computer lab at Britannia Community Services Centre. 

Regarding safety measures and services in Vancouver retirement homes, independent and assisted living communities often have nursing and housekeeping staff and doctors who visit several times a week. Some residences have an on-site pharmacy and medication supervision, while others offer access to nearby pharmacies, physical therapy and other appointments.

Overall, with the crime rate continuing to drop in Vancouver, the broader community is kept safe to explore and its retirement communities ensure that residents are well looked after in and outside of their residences. Many communities have call bell systems and emergency phone systems in place and endeavor to provide the utmost care and safety for their residents at all times. 

Getting around Vancouver

Retirement communities strive to ensure that seniors are able to get around, often scheduling transportation either through complimentary rides to shopping malls, medical appointments or other inclusive outings, or arranging door-to-door service for special requests.

Depending on the district of Vancouver, shuttle buses are offered for free or donation. Contact local seniors community centers for information. 

For independent seniors who are interested in traveling around Vancouver, there are a number of options:

• TransLink - Encompasses SkyTrain, SeaBus (inner harbor ferry service - wheelchair accessible), bus and Community Shuttles. Residents who cannot use the conventional transit system without an attendant may benefit from HandyCard program (must be permanent resident in Metro Vancouver - includes ride for concession fare which is a reduced fare and attendants can travel for free). The Government of British Columbia offers an annual transit pass at a reduced fee - must contact them for eligibility. 
• SkyTrain - Two SkyTrain routes in Metro Vancouver - the Expo Line and the Millennium Line intersect at Commercial Drive (Broadway and Commercial Stations) in Vancouver and Columbia Station in New Westminster. Connects with a network of buses at many stations and with SeaBus and West Coast Express at Waterfront Station in downtown Vancouver. For customers with vision loss, SkyTrain offers a VIP Customer Assistance Program.
• TransLink Bus - Provides programs on how to use the bus with mobility aides, booklets loaned through library on how to navigate the transit system. Every bus is accessible and can carry two wheelchairs or mobility aids. Some bus stops are NOT accessible, must check beforehand. 
• HandyDART - Offers custom, door-to-door service for passengers with wheelchairs/scooters or other special needs. It is a shared ride service. You need to be registered for the service and make your trip reservations in advance in order to use it. Can provide connections to SkyTrain, SeaBus, bus routes and West Coast Express. 
• West Coast Express - A commuter rail service between Mission and Vancouver, fully accessible to people with wheelchairs or other mobility aids. The WCE TrainBus service is not wheelchair accessible. CNIB pass holders may ride. 
• BC Transit offers a universal bus pass that allows for unlimited travel for seniors. 
• Home care services - Transportation for all kinds of needs, plus in-home services if needed. Single events or regular schedule. Rates and service hours vary.

For a full guide to getting around Metro Vancouver, please visit AccessTransit 

How to choose a retirement home

Narrowing down the options for retirement homes can seem like a daunting task. Consider what matters most to you, your price range and if location is a factor in your decision. Would you prefer to be close to family? Would living in an active lifestyle community suit you or would you prefer a community with more assistance?

For more points to consider and some common questions and concerns about retirement homes, please visit our page for seniors considering a retirement home.

Are you even ready to move into a retirement community? The following questions can help you decide:

• Do you want to stay active but be freed from housework or making meals?
• Is living independently becoming more difficult? Do you feel lonely or isolated?
• Is maintaining your current home becoming too onerous?
• Are you able to meet your personal care needs?
• Are daily tasks such as shopping and cooking becoming too much of a burden or would you rather have help?
• Are you worried about falling or becoming ill and not being able to get help?
• Do you want easier access to recreational and social activities?
• Do you want to live near others your age?

Did you find yourself answering yes to one or several or all of these questions? Then you may already be in the mindset of beginning your search for a retirement community. Please visit our page for seniors considering a retirement home for more common questions and concerns about retirement living that may be helpful to you.

When you decide that you’re ready to look at which retirement communities are available and which type might suit you best, remember that each retirement community has something different to offer so it’s important to search for residences that speak to your personality and interests, where you’ll feel most comfortable and cared for. 

One of the first ways to set about doing this is to figure out what you want. What’s really important to you in a community? What do you absolutely need and what would be nice to have? When you consider the area you’re looking into moving, which nearby services and activities are important to you to? Would you be all right with living in city away from family or being close to them necessary?

Also, what can you afford? Keep in mind there are some additional services that retirement homes offer that aren’t included in the monthly fee. Overall, ensure that the retirement homes on your shortlist:

• Meet your short and long-term medical needs 
• Are affordable now and in the future
• Can grow with your needs as your activity and medical levels change over time

Be sure that your medical needs will be met, the community you choose will remain affordable over time, and that the residence can accommodate your needs as your activity and medical levels change.

One of the best ways to feel out a retirement community and see firsthand if it would be right for you is to take a tour and speak with current residents and staff. Is the environment somewhere you could envision yourself? Chat with some of the residents where possible and ask what they love most about living there. Question staff about any specific concerns and see what they may be able to suggest to accommodate your needs. Also, don’t forget to download the Ultimate Retirement Tour Checklist to take with you when you begin touring retirement communities.

If, after taking a tour, you’re still unsure as to whether that community will work for you, ask if it’s possible to stay the night. Many residences will offer overnight stays as an opportunity for you to get the best idea and experience of what living at that community is like. Take the time to ask more questions and get as much feedback as you can to help inform your decision. 

Vancouver’s senior care services are also flexible in terms of types of homes and other services provided. Another example is when seniors and families choose short-term services. Temporary care services are often arranged for seniors after a medical crisis has occurred, such as a stroke or a fall. Services may also be provided for a longer duration in retirement homes or in long-term care homes, depending on the level of care required.

Learn more about choosing a retirement home or contact the residences above to get started with your search.

Note:

An additional point to consider for those interested in a long-term care home is that you or your loved ones are likely to be put on a waitlist. Experts suggest that semi-private and private accommodations generally cost more but may have shorter wait times. Different factors may affect average wait times, including the type of accommodation requested, a crisis, ethno-cultural preference, or if there are specific medical care needs. For more information on wait times, contact the designated associations mentioned above or the retirement community of your choice directly. 

Regulation of Vancouver retirement homes

In order to ensure the safety of seniors, the BC government regulates assisted living and long-term care communities through the Community Care and Assisted Living Act, which was formerly the Community Care Facility Act. This Act ensures that specific standards, certifications, and inspections are maintained, and provides regulations for community care and assisted living, residential care, and continuing care programs.  

Initiatives such as the Age-friendly Action Plan also strive to improve services and facilities available to seniors whether they require a minimal amount of assistance or need a more in depth range of support. Learn more about the Age-friendly Action Plan and their progress on the city of Vancouver’s official website. 

Many Vancouver retirement homes are members of provincial and national associations, including:

• The British Columbia Seniors Living Association (BCSLA): The British Columbia Seniors' Living Association (BCSLA) sets operating standards for retirement homes. Senior care services provided by BCSLA members entail a commitment to innovation, resident choice, and excellence.
• The Canadian Association of Retired People (CARP) 

Source: CMHC Seniors’ Housing Survey 2020-2021