Long Term Care and Retirement

Too often, Seniors, their families, spouses and caregivers face sudden or unexpected decisions about finding housing with various levels of care. The options are confusing and the terms often wrongly interchanged and misunderstood.  Here is a basic breakdown of options for Seniors looking for, or needing, housing.   

Adult Lifestyle/Retirement Communities:  These are built and run by private enterprises and provide independent living residences for retirees or semi-retirees in a community of well seniors. There is no care service provided, so for home care at any level, you have to set it up.  A real estate agent can help you find a retirement community in your area. 

Retirement Homes: These are private businesses selling accommodation with costs based on the type of services offered. They are almost all for-profit, and are not funded or regulated by the government. You are responsible for the entire cost, although rates are subject to rent control guidelines.  So choose carefully – each home must provide you with a Care Home Information Package outlining charges, staffing, care levels, meals, and activities, etc.  Do your research and find the home in the best location that fits your budget and the care and social life you or your family member needs.  A listing is included above.  You can also call the Ontario Residential Communities Association (ORCA) at 1-800-361-7254.  ORCA voluntarily inspects retirement homes and sets standards so you may want to call them before signing any agreement. 

Social Housing: This is affordable housing for seniors and families with low to moderate income, with the operators receiving a subsidy from local government. There are usually waiting lists for social housing. For more information, call your local city hall.  Again, you would be responsible for arranging care for any needed health services. 

Supportive Housing: Here you will find on-site personal support services for seniors, living as tenants, in residential buildings. You live independently in your own apartment, with varying levels of care like housekeeping and medical services. They are not-for-profit and receiving some funding from the provincial government for the care services.  You still must pay rent, food and clothing, but there may be no charge for the care.

Long-Term Care: Long-term care residences are not retirement homes. They have round-the-clock nursing care, activities for residents, and some of the same features as retirement homes but are permanent homes for those who can no longer take care of themselves. Long-term care facilities are private or government owned, but all are subsidized and regulated by the government, who sets the accommodation rates. Only you can decide if the level of medical care needed means it is time for a long-term care facility.  However, it is not the same as choosing a retirement or seniors home.  There are eligibility requirements, and while you have some choice of the facility, the ultimate decision is not up to you.

Community Care Access Centres (CCAC)’s:  When the time comes when you decide for yourself or a loved one, that a long-term care facility is the best option, you must contact the Community Care Access Centre (CCAC) in your area. There are 43 CCACs in Ontario, funded by the provincial government as non-profit organizations.  Their purpose is placement in long-term care facilities and setting up home care and support services for those who want to stay in their home.  If you or a family member has decided to stay at home, in a retirement community or in social housing, but need nursing care, you would call the CCAC in your area to help set this up. If you qualify, there is no charge. For supportive housing options, the CCAC will also provide a list with costs and help you select the best one for you. 

If it is long-term care placement you are looking for, the CCAC will ask you to talk or meet with a case manager, who will decide if the person is eligible. Then you select three facilities as your choices. Choose carefully, go visit the facility and consider location. For a list of long-term care facilities in your area, click here. This is important, because when the first bed becomes available in any of the three facilities you choose, you must accept or decline that bed within 24 hours. If you say no, because it is not your first choice, your application is removed from the waiting lists of all your selected facilities and you can not reapply for six months.  If there is a substantial change in the conditions, the CCAC may decide to reassess you or the family member during the six months.  Once you accept the bed, the new resident has five days to move in.   

However, just like all housing, there is a cost to living in a long-term care facility. The government pays a portion of the cost for the nursing and other services, but there is also a resident’s portion for the room. The government sets the rates depending on whether it is a ward, a semi-private room or a private room. If income is limited, you can apply for a rate reduction. Again, for information about current rates and rate reduction eligibility, you must call your CCAC.   

            To find the CCAC serving your area, please call 1-800-268-1154.