The RHRA’s central role is to inform, educate and protect seniors living in retirement homes across Ontario. That’s why it’s important to fully understand the Retirement Home Act, 2010 (the Act) and encourage open dialogue with all stakeholders about its function and interpretation.
In this section, you’ll find resources that will help articulate the Act in clear and simple terms as well as a detailed summary of our partnerships and affiliations.
Understanding the Act
Plain Language Act
RHRA provides an overview of the Act in the plain language guide in order to give readers a basic understanding or familiarity with the Act. This guide explains the standards set out in the Act. Remember that it is an overview and you are still encouraged to consult the Act and its regulations.
Legislation & Regulations
In addition to the Act, legislation and regulations cover important areas like, resident’ rights, standards, safety plans, care services, etc.
Accountability
December 2025 RHRA Response to Auditor General’s Follow Up Report
RHRA continues to make the safety and protection of seniors living in Ontario licensed retirement homes our top priority. We appreciate the Auditor General’s review and recommendations to help us effectively and efficiently fulfill our mandate.
RHRA is proud of the progress we have made so far, as 74% of the Auditor General’s 2020 recommended actions have been fully implemented. The remainder are either in progress (11%) or will not be implemented (15%) for reasons that include being outside of our scope.
In addition to the recommendations made by the Auditor General, the RHRA continues to identify opportunities to strengthen resident protection, improve service level standards and deliver on our core regulatory mandate.
Additional Information:
Transparency
RHRA’s Commitment to Transparency
RHRA is committed to increasing transparency as a fundamental tenet of being a responsible and accountable regulator. We believe that transparency and openness is key to successful communication and collaboration with our stakeholders, and ultimately supports the health and wellbeing of retirement home residents and the sector as a whole.
RHRA’s Transparency Principles
- RHRA’s mandate is to protect and ensure the safety and well-being of seniors living in Ontario’s retirement homes. This includes ensuring the public has access to transparent, unbiased information that builds trust in RHRA’s ability to deliver on its mandate.
- RHRA is committed to providing information on its Retirement Home Database that gives current residents, prospective residents, and their loved ones the information they need to make informed choices about retirement homes, including a home’s history of compliance with the Retirement Homes Act, 2010.
- RHRA will continuously improve on its commitment to transparency through its ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, including residents and their families, loved ones and substitute decision makers, in order to assess how well RHRA is delivering on its commitments and to incorporate feedback.
- RHRA is committed to ensuring that the information it provides is timely and easy to find and understand.
- The objectives of informed decision making and RHRA accountability must be balanced with fairness, privacy, and the RHRA’s ability to effectively deliver on its mandate.
- The greater the risk of harm to residents, the more important transparency becomes and RHRA will ensure that the public is aware.
About RHRA
The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) is responsible for licensing and regulating retirement homes on behalf of the government of Ontario.