Choosing a home to age with you

A studio apartment or multi-bedroom suite? A small kitchenette or a communal dining room? A pool, squash court and bowling alley, or simply a balcony and garden? When it comes to retirement communities, sorting through all the options can be a little overwhelming for seniors said Bill VanGorder.

“It is very confusing and there isn’t good navigation for people when it comes to knowing what questions they need to ask,” said the chief operating and policy officer of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons. “The first thing to figure out, like most decisions, is exactly what you want to do in that next stage of your life.”

VanGorder, whose non-profit organization advocates for financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from ageism for retired Canadians, said those considering moving into a retirement community should look for one that reflects their interests and needs.

“Are you a golfer who wants to be near a golf course, or a theatregoer who wants to be closer to a theatre, or a shopper who is only happy if you are close to malls?” he said. “Some communities are very expensive and are full of activities, but if those activities don’t appeal to you, then is there a place that is less expensive that would be better?

“Are you looking at a retirement community because you want to live someplace smaller, or is it because you are looking to have more health care available if you need it?”

Cathy Hecimovich, chief executive officer of the Ontario Retirement Communities Association, said understanding what is important to each senior is a good starting point. 

“Is it being located in a community where all their friends and family are, or is it important for them to be in another community?” she said. “Location is always a huge consideration because having those social ties are the most important things for seniors to stay healthy and well, and certainly retirement communities offer lots of opportunities for friendships and activities.”

She said from there, it is really a question of what type of environment the senior is looking for — from amenities to independence and affordability. This might include the size of the accommodation, a walk-in shower or bathtub, or even a balcony.

“We have places that have pools, that have bowling alleys, that have gyms,” she said. “Do you want to bring a pet with you? A number of homes accept pets. If that dog or cat is important to you, you will want to bring it.

“We are an industry that sprang up to meet the needs of seniors, so we are purpose built and purpose driven and a hospitality oriented sector. We are really responsive to the needs of seniors and that really does mean a fair amount of variation.”

Hecimovich said there are more than 770 licensed retirement homes in Ontario, all of which are regulated by the province — a feature, she said, “we are proud of and we think is of great value to the sector and the seniors who call us home.” She said retirement communities have evolved in the last couple of decades, including when it comes to changing medical needs.

“We have had to adapt and continue to grow and change what we do to meet the needs of our seniors — who want to stay with us,” she said. “The wonderful thing about seniors that come into retirement communities is the majority of them don’t want to leave and go into long-term care if they don’t have to.

“We now have retirement homes that can provide care for people with cognitive impairments, like mild and moderate Alzheimer’s. We have secure units and units that specialize in providing dementia services.”

Hecimovich said the Canada Mortgages and Housing Corporation estimated in 2021 that the average cost of a suite in a retirement community in Ontario was $3,354 per month. This, she said, included utilities, amenities, food and other services.

VanGorder said seniors considering moving into a retirement community may want to speak to their financial advisor first.

“On the surface, these facilities can seem expensive, but when you realize that many of them have services available, you will have very few extra costs in a month,” he said. “The expense might be more affordable than you think it is in the first place.”

Both he and Hecimovich also recommend seniors visit any retirement community they are considering moving into to make sure it is a fit for them.

“A red flag would be the happiness of the people living there and the cleanliness of the facility and the attitude of the staff. Those are the key things to look at,” said VanGorder. “Good operators of these facilities do not want people there who are unhappy, because that will affect everything and everybody.”