Canada Senior Housing Guide: Everything You Need To Know

happy seniors

There are several senior living options available for older adults in Canada. These living arrangements differ in terms of the cost, quality, and variety of services and care rendered.

Regardless of your older one’s finances, the chances are that they will find a suitable care option for their needs. However, it is essential to thoroughly understand the features of each retirement living option to make an informed decision.

Seasons Retirement, a reputable retirement community in Canada, offers various care options to older adults, each at different costs. You can click here to learn more about the cost of living in a retirement home.

Senior housing options can be categorized into government-sponsored care and privately sponsored care. This piece will discuss the different care options under these retirement living alternatives.

Privately sponsored care options

Private individuals who are capable can pay for some of the senior living care options available in Canada, and some of them include:

Home support services 

The majority of older adults in Canada prefer ‘aging in place.’ While home support services could mean that older people get to enjoy retirement in their homes surrounded by family members and friends, it can also imply staying alone – as in solitary living.

Choosing not to move to a retirement community is not a bad idea. In fact, with home care services, older adults can live in their residences healthily and safely. 

Hence, a professional caregiver is hired under this type of senior care to assist your “aging in place” parents and grandparents.

An assistant who can help your loved ones with some of their daily activities can be employed at an hourly rate of about $10. For older folks with peculiar health issues, it is advisable to hire a trained nurse to care for them. You can employ these healthcare workers for about $30 per hour. 

Independent living

 Independent living is an option in Canada for older persons who do not require assistance with their daily personal activities.

This type of senior living arrangement is designed either as stand-alone apartments or a campus-like community with shared spaces and amenities such as sports centers, dining areas, and so on.

busy elderly

In an independent living community, the management staff may offer services to help take care of residents’ household chores, ranging from housekeeping and laundry to home maintenance. Some communities also provide regular, healthy meals to their residents.

Older adults who choose to stay in independent living homes get to meet and socialize with new people who may share similar interests with them.

The costs of staying in an independent living community in Canada range from around $2,000 to $4,000 every month, depending on the retirement home’s location and quality of services.

Assisted living 

In assisted living, a retirement home provides shelter and care to elderly people who wish to maintain their independence while rendering assistance with some of their activities of daily living (ADLs). These activities may include bathing, dressing, and moving around.

Assisted living allows seniors to choose their own residence and decorate it as they see fit. Residents can also choose which services are delivered to them based on their health status and care needs..

While some older persons may only opt for housekeeping services, others dealing with certain health issues may require specialized help. For instance, residents on medication may need to be monitored by the community’s medical staff.

It should be noted that the cost of assisted living varies depending on the retirement community and the level of care provided.

Adult family homes

Some older adults aren’t big supporters of a formal atmosphere, which is believed to be a feature of most retirement homes in Canada. For this reason, they prefer to move to an adult family home that offers a more intimate environment.

In an adult family home, residents live in a house like family members. Meanwhile, a team of service staff also stays in the home, providing a wide range of care services, including housekeeping, cooking, etc.

The cost of this type of senior housing differs depending on the home’s location and the level of support being given.

Memory care

Memory care is a specialized senior living arrangement designed to care for older folks dealing with memory issues like dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. In memory care homes, medical specialists and nurses are on hand to provide the care and support that the residents need.

Therapeutic music, games, and other fun tools are employed to ensure older folks stay physically fit and mentally sharp.

Due to the round-the-clock specialized assistance offered in these homes, the prices can be relatively high – with some care communities charging up to $5,000 monthly.

Government-sponsored services

The Canadian government has set up several programs to provide different levels of care and support to older adults, and they include:

Adult day services

Under this category, government-paid caregivers take care of older adults and keep them company during the day while their primary caregivers attend to their personal work or take a rest.

This program is a great help to many Canadian families, who often have to split their time between working and taking care of their older loved ones.

elderly care

Some states have designated centers where these services for old individuals can be provided. Older people may have to pay for their food and transportation to the care unit in these facilities.

However, the cost of other care services rendered is borne by the government. It is worth noting that specialized programs for older people dealing with specific health issues are also available in some areas.

Home support services

This government scheme is for older persons – without special medical needs – who may need help carrying out their daily chores. The government pays caregivers who provide services such as laundry, housekeeping, bathing, dressing, etc. 

Caregiver respite care

As with any job role, caring for and supporting an older person can become tedious over time, requiring that the caregiver takes a rest every now and then. Given this situation, the government created respite care services to provide short or long breaks to primary caregivers.

When a primary caregiver is on a short break, the government deploys a direct service worker to support their older folk. When it’s a long break, older persons are temporarily moved into government-subsidized senior care homes, where they stay for as long as their primary caregiver is away.

Supportive housing

Older adults unable to live alone in their houses can be moved to care centers subsidized by the government. This government-funded program offers care services similar to the provisions at assisted living homes.

Conclusion

As mentioned earlier, there are several senior housing options in Canada. This article highlights the unique care services each option offers to your older relatives. 

If your loved one plans to move into a retirement home in Canada, the above information should guide them in choosing a suitable care option.