RHRA can help inform your decision when choosing a retirement home. There are over 750 licensed retirement homes in Ontario. When you or a loved one is looking to move into a new home, how do you know which one is right for you?
Tab through each section below to learn more on how to…
Choosing a home that is right for you
Types of homes in Ontario
If you’ve never lived in a retirement home or needed long-term care, you may not be aware of how different the two really are. If you are considering a retirement home, here is what you need to know:
The difference between retirement and long-term care homes:
- People who live in retirement homes generally need less medical care than long-term care home residents;
- Retirement homes do not receive government funding and residents pay the full cost of their accommodation and any care services they purchase;
- Retirement homes decide what care services they will offer to their residents;
- Residents may purchase any of the care services offered by the retirement home, or arrange for external care providers, including private-pay or publicly-funded; and
- There is no specific criteria to be eligible to live in a retirement home and you may look into as many retirement homes as you wish.
more tools to help your search:
Do you think a long-term care home may be more suited to your needs?
View our infographic on the differences between a Retirement Home and a Long-Term Care Home: Differences between a Retirement & Long-Term Care Home
Learn more about long-term care homes:
START YOUR RESEARCH
Four things to consider when conducting your research.
There are many important factors to consider when researching a home. Simplify your search in advance by breaking down the process into four key steps as follows:
PLAN – make a list of the care services you may need now or in future: anything from help with bathing to meal preparation and medical care.
CONSIDER – be sure to think about the community in which you would like to live, the size and type of building you want to live in, the accommodations you would prefer, and how far family or friends would be able to travel to visit you.
RESEARCH – find out about the safety records, services offered and more for Ontario’s 750+ licensed retirement homes through RHRA’s informative and easy-to-use Retirement Home Database. Look up homes by name, size, city or even postal code. Make note of any questions you would like to follow-up on with your preferred retirement homes or use our handy Questions to Ask document below.
TOUR – visit your top retirement home options in person. Many offer tours, meetings with staff, or an opportunity to enjoy an activity or a meal. This will give you a better idea of whether the home is the right fit for you. Be sure to bring along your list of questions to make the most of your time.
questions to ask potential retirement homes:
When you tour a retirement home, there are many things you’ll want to consider to decide if it’s the right fit for you or your loved one.
While you likely have questions about food, activities, amenities and accommodations, here are five important questions you may want to ask:
Is the home licensed?
All retirement homes in Ontario are required to be licensed by the RHRA. If a home does not meet the legislation’s prescribed definition of a retirement home outlined in the Retirement Homes Act or is operating without a licence, they are not subject to the Authority’s regulatory oversight, which could pose a potential risk to the resident. Even if the term “retirement home” is in the name of the home, that doesn’t mean it is licensed. Check to ensure a home has a licence on our Retirement Home Database.
When was the home’s last inspection and how did it perform?
RHRA conducts inspections for a variety of reasons. Find out how the home did on its most recent and past inspections. To learn more about the types of inspections performed, check out our Retirement Home Database.
Can you tell me about a resident complaint you’ve received, how it was handled, and what the outcome was?
How a retirement home works with its residents to resolve conflicts can provide helpful information about the home.
Can you describe the range of medical needs your staff are able to accommodate? Are there any common care services that you don’t provide?
When searching for a home, it’s important to think about current health needs as well as those that can come up down the road.
What is the base cost of room and board each month, and what is and is not included in this price?
When considering pricing, make sure you factor in the cost for the services needed now, and what will be needed in the future. Remember that fees may also change over time.
For more questions to ask when considering a retirement home, click on Questions to Ask Potential Retirement Homes below.
more tools to help your search:
Do you think a long-term care home may be more suited to your needs?
View our infographic on the differences between a Retirement Home and a Long-Term Care Home: Retirement Homes vs Long-Term Care Homes
Learn more about long-term care homes:
START YOUR RESEARCH
Tools to support you through your research
In this section, you’ll find resources to help your search for the right home:
Search the Retirement Home Database
Retirement Homes vs Long-Term Care Homes
Questions to Ask Potential Retirement Homes
Guide for Using the Retirement Home Database
information for current and prospective retirement home residents:
additional external resources:
Government Organizations
Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility
Community Care Access Centres (CCAC)
Consumer Protection Ontario (CPO)
Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN)
The Office of the Fire Marshal and Emergency Management
The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee (OPGT)
Service Canada – Services for Seniors
Seniors’ Organizations
Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA)
Ontario Long-Term Care Association (OLTCA)
Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association (ONPHA)
Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE)
Elder Abuse Prevention Ontario
more tools to help your search:
Do you think a long-term care home may be more suited to your needs?
View our infographic on the differences between a Retirement Home and a Long-Term Care Home: Retirement Homes vs Long-Term Care Homes
Learn more about long-term care homes:
START YOUR RESEARCH
RHRA Retirement Home Database
The Retirement Home Database contains information on all 750+ licensed retirement homes in Ontario.
You will find information about:
- Care services offered and inspection reports
- Up-to-date and accurate facts about each home
- Lookup by name, size, city, postal code and licence status on a searchable map.