Author

Dorothy Walsh

Options for retirement homes and senior living communities are growing every day. This makes the process of choosing the best community a bit overwhelming. (Check out or guide on How To Choose A Retirement Home).  Finding the right community for your aging loved one is important to ensure that it will suite their lifestyle and that all their needs will be met. It is key to help them choose a retirement home that will be a good fit for them throughout their aging process. You also want to make sure that your loved one will be cared for. When looking for a senior living community, factors like location, cost, lifestyle, security, accessibility, and access to health care should be taken into account. Our team has used our guiding criteria below to choose the best retirement homes in Toronto.

best retirement homes toronto

Criteria:

Whether you are making plans for your own retirement years down the road or looking for a home for your aging parents/relative, it pays to have a plan to find the best retirement home in Toronto for your needs. There are a number of key considerations that you should factor in before making this decision. These are the most important ones that we have identified:

 

Location

 

Whether your loved one moves to move to a completely new area or remains in a familiar community, you will want to make sure that the facility you are considering for them offers nearby access to the services they need. It is also important to understand that many aging individuals can feel disoriented when moved away from a community that they are familiar with.

 

Levels of Care

 

The reality is that aging relatives need different levels of care, so you need to make sure that the senior living community you choose is able to cater to all of their needs. When considering the right retirement home take into consideration whether in the coming years your loved one might need increased levels of care. If so then look for a facility that will be able to accommodate those needs later down the road, to avoid having to move them to an unfamiliar setting when they need more care. If levels of care are your top priority, then it is highly recommended that you choose a nursing home for your loved one where nursing care and all levels of support are available.

 

Community Size

 

Don’t forget to consider the number of people the senior living community in Toronto serves. Communities with many residents usually provide more entertainment and host more activities than smaller communities. However, a smaller senior living community might give your aging relative the opportunity to make friends more easily.

 

Reputation

 

Carefully evaluate the community’s reputation. Be sure to check our reviews along with with local government reviews as well as Better Business Bureau to research reported problems or complaints at any facility you are considering. Another way to check the reputation of a retirement community is by talking with people who live in the area or even existing residents.

 

Costs

 

The costs alone shouldn’t be the deciding factor when choosing a retirement home in Toronto. It is important to compare the retirement communities in Toronto and what they have to offer, more expensive does not always mean better as it all depends on the needs of your aging relative. One should also compare between at home care and a retirement community, as often times when all costs are taken into consideration a retirement home in Toronto can be more accessible.

 

Years in Operation

 

While looking at the number of years a community has been in operation isn’t a deciding factor in and of itself, senior care homes that have been in business longer generally have more established reputation. A senior home that has been around for many years has proved their ability to properly care and look after their aging community.

 

Financial Stability

 

Be sure to research the financial stability of the senior living community. A facility that has financial issues, e.g. large amount of debt, etc., could unexpectedly close their doors, leaving your aging relative without a place to call home.

Retirement Homes FAQ:

The price of a retirement home drastically varies based on a few main factors, one is the type of care that you are hoping your loved one will receive. Two is the location of the retirement homes you are looking at, resort like locations or city central retirement communities tend to have a premium to them. The third most important factor is the types of amenities  and services that you hope for your aging loved one to have, as they can really impact the price. To learn more about how much does a retirement home cost, read our article on retirement home cost in Canada.

A retirement home is a place for your loved ones to live in, while receiving the appropriate care and assistance. A good retirement home is one that cares about its residents and promotes a sense of community, so everyday feels like an eventful day for their residents. Retirement Home is an umbrella term that encompasses many different care types, so it is important to choose the right type of care for your loved one. If you want to learn more about the different types of retirement communities, feel free to check out our article on different types of retirement communities.

First and foremost, it is important to consider what the lifestyle of your loved one is going to be and the type of support that they need today and later down the line. This will help narrow down which type of retirement home should be picked, with the proper care offerings. Amenities should be taken into consideration, events, as well as community and neighborhood. All of these are strong factors that impact the well being of your loved one. To learn more about how to choose the right retirement home, read out article here.

A key to looking for downsizing options is to start early on, this way you are able to assess all the different opportunities and slowly start decluttering. Although decluttering can be tough, an effective technique is to simply go room by room, and take time to go through item by item. It is also key to know how much space will be provided at the new home, so one can plan for how much to bring over. Somre downsizing homes offer storage area for a premium, which are worth looking into if your loved one wants to keep larger valuables. To explore downsizing options in your area, click here to use our search tool.

10 Best Retirement Communities in Toronto

In no particular order, here are the best old age homes in Toronto that stood out to us when using the criteria above.

Featured

Canterbury Place Retirement Residence offers a maintenance-free, relaxed, and proactive living experience to seniors to make sure that the next chapter of their life is as vibrant and rich as they are. The community offers assistance with activities of daily living, e.g. medication monitoring, dressing, bathing, etc. Apart from this, it also offers and encourages resident participation in a number of healthy, enjoyable activities that are scheduled daily. These beneficial activities may range from puzzles and crafts to lunch trips to local restaurants, and more. The focus of Canterbury Place Retirement Residence is on the social, spiritual, and physical wellness of the elderly.

Review:

Lee Allen

“Canterbury Place is a great place to spend your retirement years. They have very friendly and helpful staff, great food and lots of activities for residents. I can only hope, I can retire in such a great community.”

Lee Allen

“Canterbury Place is a great place to spend your retirement years. They have very friendly and helpful staff, great food and lots of activities for residents. I can only hope, I can retire in such a great community.”

Delmanor Wynford

Featured

Delmanor Wynford is one of the best retirement communities in Toronto. It offers nominal and independent care and boasts an elegant condominium-style living that caters to the specific needs of seniors. Your aging relative will surely love the fact that they can continue to live in such a vibrant, active community, and choose to participate in a wide range of events, wellness exercise programs, and excursions throughout the day.

 

In Delmanor Wynford, residents can always find a circle of dinner companions or coffee friends to share their everyday experiences with. The entire staff is professional and lives by the values of integrity, accountability, compassion, and respect. All the services offered here are for the purpose of enhancing the seniors’ experience in every way possible.

Delmanor Wynford

Review:

Walter Farag

“My father was one of the first residents in 2010, and recently moved to a nursing home due to health reasons. Staff, management, rooms, restaurant, food, activities, etc. were excellent. 5-star hotel treatment. Thank you Delmanor Wynford.”

Walter Farag

“My father was one of the first residents in 2010, and recently moved to a nursing home due to health reasons. Staff, management, rooms, restaurant, food, activities, etc. were excellent. 5-star hotel treatment. Thank you Delmanor Wynford.”

dunfield

Featured

The Dunfield Retirement Residence stood out to our team as one of the best retirement homes in Toronto, not only because of it’s incredibly location but also for their customization. Many times retirement homes offer cookie cutter packages, where your loved ones might end up paying for services they don’t need or worse lack a few services that they require. This retirement home prides itself in being able to deliver personalized packages depending on the needs of your loved one.

Dunfield Residences provides a wide variety of care from active lifestyles to those looking for assisted living and even memory care. It’s important when choosing a retirement community in Toronto that they can provide all of the care needed by your loved one now, and also down the line. This is to avoid having to move them to another home with more appropriate care, during a critical time which can be confusing for the elderly.

dunfield

Review:

joe schiavone

My father and mother have been staying at the Dunfield for years. It’s definitely one of the best retirement homes in the city. Beautiful Dining room for get togethers with the entire family. If you can stay there you will love it.

joe schiavone

My father and mother have been staying at the Dunfield for years. It’s definitely one of the best retirement homes in the city. Beautiful Dining room for get togethers with the entire family. If you can stay there you will love it.

Hazelton Place

Featured

Hazelton Place Retirement Residence specializes in memory care, assisted living, and independent living services. The community excels at providing a worry-free, safe, home-like environment that its residents enjoy. The community has been serving Toronto for many years and it has become very popular because of its outstanding amenities, services, and the sense of independence it offers to seniors who live here.

 

The staff at Hazelton Place Retirement Residence makes every resident feel at home, feel loved, and wanted. The professional and friendly staff does its best to make sure that each resident can maintain a healthy, happy life.

Hazelton Place

Review:

Oliver Madison

“I’m deeply grateful to know that my mum is in such good hands! The staff are extremely competent and caring, going above and beyond almost each and every time. Their flexibility and competence has been especially apparent as they have navigated through COVID, always prioritizing safety while also truly focused on the caring community they work so hard to create.”

Oliver Madison

“I’m deeply grateful to know that my mum is in such good hands! The staff are extremely competent and caring, going above and beyond almost each and every time. Their flexibility and competence has been especially apparent as they have navigated through COVID, always prioritizing safety while also truly focused on the caring community they work so hard to create.”

The Briton House

Featured

The Briton House has an established reputation for providing nourishment in all areas of life with  over 40 years in the retirement industry. Amongst all of their amenities their 15,000 square foot indoor garden stood out to our team, as a beautiful way to ensure that your loved ones always gets exposure to nature, even during the winter. Their entertainment is not only their industry leading amenities but also their activities that they put together, such as their cultural events, exercise programs or religious services.

When looking at the amenities, the services, location and attention to care it is easy to see why Briton House is one of the leading retirement homes in Toronto. They offer a variety of care from independent living, to assisted living and even memory Care. This makes it a top contender when looking at which services your loved one might need now, and also down the line.

The Briton House

Review:

Ryan Cowan

My Grandmother has stayed here for over 5 years and feels right at home. She tells me how great the community is and how delicious all of the meals are. It feels great to know how comfortable she is at The Briton House

Ryan Cowan

My Grandmother has stayed here for over 5 years and feels right at home. She tells me how great the community is and how delicious all of the meals are. It feels great to know how comfortable she is at The Briton House

Delmanor Prince Edward

Featured

Delmanor Prince Edward is committed to establishing services and high-quality standard of living for the elderly that show. From concierge staff to housekeeping, each and every team member is committed to fulfilling the needs of residents by being supportive and attentive.

 

Delmanor Prince Edward is well-known for offering full-service assisted living and independent living services, as well as its emergency response systems, and building security. This best retirement home Toronto is not only stunning but also full of unique and useful services that enrich the lives of the elderly. It’s friendly and trained staff is available 24/7 to cover all the residents’ needs.

Delmanor Prince Edward

Review:

Joan Harris

“I am very happy to be here at Delmanor. It is the best move I could have made. The residents are so friendly, and the staff are unfailingly pleasant and helpful. My suite is sunny and comfortable, and the meals are great. I enjoy the roof for my daily walk, and the back patio is beautiful. I look forward to each day.”

Joan Harris

“I am very happy to be here at Delmanor. It is the best move I could have made. The residents are so friendly, and the staff are unfailingly pleasant and helpful. My suite is sunny and comfortable, and the meals are great. I enjoy the roof for my daily walk, and the back patio is beautiful. I look forward to each day.”

Retirement Suites by The Lake

Featured

If you are thinking of Retirement, often time you’ll think of someone on a beach relaxing and enjoying their time. Retirement Suites by the Lake (RSBL) has that unique offering, of a beach style retirement, right from Toronto. Located in the Toronto Beaches area in Southern Ontario, residents can expect beautiful view and access of Lake Ontario. Large suites, promise a comfortable living with enough space for personal items. RSBL also promises an engaging and community based lifestyle that is encouraged through everyday stimulating activities.

There are a variety of Add-On services to adjust the type of support that you’d like to receive from RSBL. There are also multi levels of on-site care to ensure that your loved one is able to get the support that they deserve. Dining is an activity that all residents can look forward to as the dining room is in the heart of the home. RSBL prides itself in delivering nutritious meals, that cater to different tastes and diets. A beautiful retirement opportunity for those that want to age near the water.

Retirement Suites by The Lake

Review:

Cathleen Colehour

Lovely place to live with excellent and caring staff. Smaller facility with much more intimacy than "institutions". Well maintained. Efficiently managed. Exceptional value. We feel so very fortunate to have joined this community of wonderful people.

Cathleen Colehour

Lovely place to live with excellent and caring staff. Smaller facility with much more intimacy than "institutions". Well maintained. Efficiently managed. Exceptional value. We feel so very fortunate to have joined this community of wonderful people.

New Horizons Tower

Featured

A well established not-for profit senior housing provider has a reputation for enhancing the lives of the seniors who choose to live here. Running since 1974, their long time in service is proof that they reinvest in the community and are able to provide a dignified and engaging lifestyle for retirees. With recent upgrades and new management this retirement home has a lot to offer. A wide array of amenities, including an auditorium is readily accessible for the residents. The location is in a  vibrant neighborhood and is one block away from Dufferin Mall with over 140 shops.

New Horizons Tower is proud to offer a resident focused care, where they make it their mission to provide for the individual needs of each resident. This combined with various levels of care including independent living, assisted living and memory care. You can feel confident that your loved one will not only be looked after but also lead a fulfilling life.

New Horizons Tower

Review:

Mark Cracknell

My father has been living there for almost 4 years in both Independent Living and now Assisted Living and we could not be happier with the caring & supportive staff and administrators, the great programs and activities they offer and the wonderful homemade food they serve!

Mark Cracknell

My father has been living there for almost 4 years in both Independent Living and now Assisted Living and we could not be happier with the caring & supportive staff and administrators, the great programs and activities they offer and the wonderful homemade food they serve!

Tapestry at Village Gate West

Featured

Tapestry at Village Gate West promotes independent and assisted living for seniors in Toronto by offering retirement living and long-term care services. It is a well-established retirement community that offers quality care to its residents in a stimulating and safe home environment. The surrounding community of Islington provides a wide variety of shops and services for every need.
Tapestry at Village Gate West offers a wide variety of resources, services, and programs for its residents. The community has nearby gardens and even a golf course that offer a stimulating, safe, dignified, and warm environment for seniors. All of the facilities at this retirement home are designed to offer an active program of activities that the elderly deserve to engage, stimulate, educate, and entertain them.

Tapestry at Village Gate West

Review:

Gerry Ayling

The exemplary staff of professional dedicated employees that care for the residents are exceptional. My five years to-date residency couldn't have been better

Gerry Ayling

The exemplary staff of professional dedicated employees that care for the residents are exceptional. My five years to-date residency couldn't have been better

Sagecare 147 Elder Street

Featured

Sagecare 147 Elder Street provides first class retirement living options and care services for those living with dementia in Toronto. With a focus on being an excellent place to call home, the mission of this community is to empower the elderly to thrive by supporting them in body, mind, and spirit. With a trained and an experienced staff that deals with dementia patients every day, you can feel safe knowing that your loved one is in good hands.

 

This well-known community for dementia care and memory care blends the comforts of a home with support services, top-notch amenities, and a team of caring professionals available 24/7. Every day and evening there is something happening in this vibrant community.

Sagecare 147 Elder Street

Review:

Yoram Beer

Excellent, personal care for elderly residents with dementia. Wonderful staff, constant attention and programming to keep the residents as engaged as possible.

Yoram Beer

Excellent, personal care for elderly residents with dementia. Wonderful staff, constant attention and programming to keep the residents as engaged as possible.

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