Established in 2011, the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority is an independent, self-funded, not-for-profit regulator mandated by the government to protect and ensure the safety and well-being of seniors living in Ontario’s retirement homes under the Retirement Homes Act, 2010.
We put residents first by ensuring retirement homes follow the rules and by sharing unbiased, transparent safety information with seniors and their loved ones. We do this by:
- Inspecting homes to ensure they comply with the Retirement Homes Act, 2010
- Taking action when they do not
- Addressing reports of harm or risk of harm to residents
- Responding to resident and family complaints
To read more about the RHRA and important information for residents such as finding a retirement home or how to register a complaint, please consult our digital brochure for residents.
What We Do
Licence retirement homes
Inspect homes to ensure they are complying with the Act and take action when they do not
Respond to reports of harm or risk of harm to residents
Provide information about the Act to residents, the public and retirement home operators
Provide the public with detailed information about licensed retirement homes through our retirement home database
Respond to complaints
Mission and Vision
Vision:
Ontarians have choice and the protection they need to live with confidence and dignity in retirement homes.
Mission:
The RHRA employs the most effective means to encourage and achieve compliance, to reduce harm, to support residents and families in making informed choices, and to enable a strong and diverse sector.
Strategic Plan
Our Strategic Plan 2022, was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Seniors Affairs, operators, family members of residents, community partners, our Stakeholder Advisory Council and other key stakeholders. Our Plan is all about actions designed to improve the safety and protection of seniors, provide them stronger decision-making tools and enable them to live with the dignity they deserve.
Five-Year Strategic Goals
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Enhance
our regulatory approach to encourage compliance and better protect residents
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Provide
strategic information through data and analytics
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Promote
informed decisions through communication, education and outreach
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Optimize
consumer protection and choice through transparency, accountability and public reporting
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Prepare
for the future
Annual Report
Read about the RHRA’s five-year plans, inspection, compliance and enforcement overview, key accomplishments, financial overview, etc.
Organizational Structure
Introduction to our CEO and Registrar, Jay O’Neill, as well as other key organizational roles such as our Risk Officer, Complaints Review Officer, and Stakeholder Advisory Council.
Governance & Regulation
RHRA is governed by a nine-person Board of Directors, including four members appointed by the Lieutenant Governor in Council and five members elected through a nomination process by the board.
Our Role
The RHRA’s central role is to inform, educate and protect seniors living in retirement homes across Ontario.
Annual Report Archive
Business Plans
Stakeholder Effectiveness Survey
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) requires the RHRA to have an independent third party to facilitate an effectiveness survey of the RHRA’s stakeholders at least once every three years. In 2018, the RHRA contracted the services of Ipsos to conduct the survey in order to acquire stakeholder views of the organization’s effectiveness. This is the RHRA’s second stakeholder survey. The Ipsos 2018 report is available here.
The RHRA has reviewed the report and considered key findings based on stakeholder feedback. Insights from this survey build on baseline information collected through RHRA’s initial survey conducted in 2015 and contribute an important perspective to the RHRA’s review, evaluation, and planning of initiatives and activities related to our Strategic Plan 2022. In response, the RHRA has developed an action plan that supports continuous improvements. Going forward, the RHRA will review and build on future Stakeholder Effectiveness Surveys, including seeking opportunities to increase resident participation and broaden seniors and caregivers survey to collect more pertinent information.
Retirement Home Database
The Retirement Home Database contains information on retirement homes in Ontario.
You will find information about:
- Care services offered and inspection reports.
- Up-to-date and accurate facts about each home.
- Look up residences by name, size, city, postal code and licence status on a searchable map.