Choosing a Retirement Residence

Moving to a retirement residence can bring real relief: no more stairs, snow or cooking for one, and people around you every day. But homes differ a great deal in what they offer, what they cost and how they feel.

This guide explains how retirement homes work in Ontario, how they differ from long-term care, how to check a home’s licence, what to look for on a tour, and how to fit the move together with selling your house.

Retirement home or long-term care?

These two are often confused, but they are very different.

The Ontario government’s page Explore your care options sets out these differences. To ask about long-term care, call Ontario Health atHome at 310-2222 (no area code needed). When you apply, you can choose up to five long-term care homes, and wait times vary. See Apply for long-term care.

An example: a husband caring for his wife with advancing dementia in their Scarborough semi may find that a retirement home cannot meet her needs, and that long-term care is the right path. A widower in Thornhill who is healthy but lonely, and tired of maintaining a house, may be a perfect fit for a retirement residence.

Check the licence: the RHRA

In Ontario, retirement homes must be licensed by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), which also inspects homes and handles complaints. Before you visit, look the home up in the RHRA Retirement Home Database. You can search by name or address, check the home’s licence status, see which care services it offers (for example help with bathing, medication administration or a dementia care program), and review its history of compliance with the law.

Touring checklist

Visit more than one home, book appointments ahead, and if you can, go back at a mealtime.

• Do residents look engaged and well cared for? Do staff greet them by name?
• Is the building clean, bright and free of strong odours?
• Are suites a good size? Is there a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and grab bars?
• Is there an emergency call system in each suite, and how quickly do staff respond?
• How many staff are on duty during the day, at night and on weekends?
• Can you eat a meal there? Can the kitchen handle special diets?
• What activities, outings and transportation are offered?
• Is it close to family, your doctor and transit?
• Can you speak with current residents or their families?

What is included, and what costs extra

This is where many families are surprised. The monthly rate usually covers the suite and a basic package, which may include some meals, housekeeping and activities. Care services such as help with bathing, dressing or medication are often charged separately, either in packages or by the service. Costs can rise as care needs grow.

Ask for the full price list in writing, and ask the home to show you what the monthly bill might look like now and if your needs increase. The Ontario government’s Find a retirement home page suggests asking what is included and what costs extra. Remember that as a resident you keep full access to Ontario’s publicly funded health care, so it is worth asking Ontario Health atHome (310-2222) whether any publicly funded home care services may be available to you.

• Which meals are included? Is there a charge for tray service to your room?
• What does each care service cost, and how is your level of care assessed?
• Are laundry, housekeeping, cable, phone, internet and parking included?
• What is the history of rent and fee increases?

Trial stays

Many retirement homes offer short stays, sometimes called trial, respite or convalescent stays, for a few days or weeks. They are a gentle way to try the food, routine and people before you commit. Ask what a short stay costs; policies vary.

Your rights as a tenant

In Ontario, a retirement home resident is generally a tenant, and the Residential Tenancies Act governs the relationship between the home (the landlord) and the resident. Disputes about the tenancy can go to the Landlord and Tenant Board. The Board’s guide, Rules for Care Homes, explains the key points, including:

• Care Home Information Package. Before you sign a tenancy agreement, the home must give you a package describing the types of accommodation, care and meal packages and their charges, staffing levels and qualifications, the emergency response system (if any), and the complaints procedure.
• Rent increases. Rent can be increased only once every 12 months, with at least 90 days’ written notice.
• Care and meal charges. These are not covered by the rent increase limits, but the home must still give at least 90 days’ written notice of an increase.
• Leaving. A tenant in a care home can end the tenancy by giving at least 30 days’ written notice.

The retirement home will also have its own agreement covering care and services. Read everything before signing, and ask a lawyer, or a family member you trust, to review it with you. This is general information only.

Timing the move with the sale of your house

For many people, the money from selling the house pays for the retirement home. That makes timing important. You may need to secure a suite before the house is sold, or sell first and stay with family for a short time. Ask the home how long a suite can be held, whether there is a wait list, and how soon you would need to move in.

1. Shortlist and tour. Choose two or three homes that fit your needs and budget.
2. Confirm the suite and the date. Get the move-in date and all costs in writing.
3. Plan the sale. Talk to a real estate professional about how long a sale may take in your area and when to list. See Timing the Sale and Your Next Move.
4. Downsize your belongings. A retirement suite is much smaller than a house. Measure it, and decide what furniture will fit. See Movers, Estate Sales and Donations.
5. Plan moving day. Many homes have set times and rules for using the elevator. See Moving Day.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if a retirement home is licensed?

Search the RHRA Retirement Home Database by name or address. It shows the home’s licence status and its compliance history.

Can a retirement home ask me to leave if my care needs grow?

There are specific rules about this under the Residential Tenancies Act, and in some cases a home can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board to transfer a resident whose needs it cannot meet. Ask the home about its policies before you move in, and get legal advice if this happens.

Can I apply for long-term care while living in a retirement home?

Yes. Applications for long-term care are made through Ontario Health atHome (310-2222), wherever you currently live.

How Irina can help

As a Seniors Real Estate Specialist®, Irina understands how important timing and gentle support are when a long-held home is sold to fund a move into a retirement residence. She is happy to talk through your plans, in English or Russian, with no pressure and no obligation. Contact her whenever you are ready.

Related guides: Your Housing Options Compared · Signs It May Be Time to Move · For Adult Children