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Find care details, insights, and insider perspectives gained from 20+ years of helping seniors and families.
What to know about this topic:
- What makes a retirement home Christian?
- Advantages of Christian retirement residences
- The importance of focusing on care over faith
- Testimonials about the value of community with fellow believers
Christian retirement homes offer senior believers (both Protestant and Catholic), a community of peers with shared faith and values. Not all communities have the same depth of Christian values, and some are denominational while others are non, but those listed here affirm Christianity as an affiliation. Some of these will be explicitly faith-based, with services and features in the community that appeal to those who want to live in a community with strong religious values.
IN-DEPTH REPORTSChristian retirement homes
Belmont House
A superb retirement home nestled in Toronto proper, featuring a variety of apartments and suites, along with a fitness room for active seniors, an on-site convenience store and more.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living
Forestview Retirement Residence
Forestview Retirement Residence is North York's newest seniors' residence. We offer Independent Lifestyle and Full Service Assisted Living Accommodations and Services, plus Short Term and Respite Stays.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
The Meadows of Aurora
The Meadows of Aurora is a Christian Seniors Lifestyle Community that promotes the wellbeing of individuals 65+. Residents experience nature’s green spaces, memorable dining experiences and great times with friends.
Lifestyle Options: Active Living
New Horizons Tower
A well-established not-for-profit, NHT is committed to enriching the lives of seniors. Gracious dining & café, a terrace garden, daily fitness, a vibrant Concert Series - there is plenty for residents to enjoy at NHT!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
Ashley Oaks Retirement Residence
Ashley Oaks offers a vibrant and active lifestyle. Our new community has a touch of European charm with spacious suites, delicious cuisine, and a variety of amenities. It's not just a place to live but a place to thrive!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Four Elms Retirement Residence - Verve Senior Living
Four Elms is an elegant Retirement Residence offering the finest in Senior Living. Choose a suite style that is perfect for you and enjoy an active lifestyle, fine dining and the company of good friends.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Prince of Peace
Prince of Peace a variety of suites styles with kitchenettes and incredible mountain views. It's the perfect residence for seniors who are active, require some assistance, or have memory care needs.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
The Village of Erin Meadows
Mississauga's unique continuum of care featuring a vibrant Main Street with Independent Living Suites, Retirement Apartments, Full Service Suites, Assisted Care, Memory Care and Long Term Care.
Lifestyle Options: Apartments, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
Shepherd Terrace
Shepherd Terrace offers a variety of independent and assisted living suites within the renowned Shepherd Village. With its long history of providing caring service you’ll love the amenities and the excellent services.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Richmond Hill Retirement Residence - Verve Senior Living
Richmond Hill Retirement Residence offers full service including meals, housekeeping, active adult, independent and assisted living. Our focus is on maintaining good health, great food, new friends & lots of laughter!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Livita Barrington Retirement Residence
Nestled in a picturesque garden, Livita Barrington offers charming cottage living with amenities moments away. Our dedicated team know each unique resident, and provide a personalized approach that feels like home.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living
Richmond Care Home
Richmond Care Home is a unique 16-unit retirement home designed for women living with dementia. We offer exceptional long-term and respite memory care, that's very reasonably priced in an intimate home-like setting.
Lifestyle Options: Memory Care
The Lodge at Valley Ridge - Verve Senior Living
At The Lodge at Valley Ridge, you'll enjoy spacious suites, impressive cuisine, and exceptional services. We have recently renovated. We welcome the opportunity to show you our great community.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Evanston Summit
A Catholic non-profit residence focusing on providing a lifestyle for independent seniors who appreciate the opportunity to live stress-free, with like-minded, active older adults.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living
Symphony Senior Living Kanata
Enjoy the natural setting of the surrounding Kanata Lakes with access to all essential amenities. Symphony Senior Living Kanata is community that offers a variety of service packages and suites to fulfill all your needs.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
OPAL Vancouver
438 West King Edward Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia V5Y 0M5 Opal offers a full continuum of support from Independent Living to Complex Care/Dementia Care/Long Term Care. Allowing the opportunity for aging in place.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Memory Care, Long-term care
What makes a retirement home Christian?
Of course, there are different denominations of Christianity, and people have a variety of perspectives, backgrounds and biases. This is exemplified by the fact that some communities above may be less conservative, while supporting onsite activities like Bible study groups and/or offering a chapel where members can worship together. In any community above, though, many fellow community members will be professing Christians.
If you are interested in investigating the orthodoxy of a community, there are ways to probe further right on our website. Look at the manager’s message or read the community’s profile description to see how they describe their approach. You might also want to look at their mission statement (if they have one). Of course, among Christian retirement homes there are those that may be explicitly Catholic, Presbyterian, Baptist or affiliated with another denomination. The dominant trend, though, is to be non-denominational. If distinctions matter to you, investigate further.
You can also use our site to read reviews by fellow members and see their reflections.
Advantages of Christian retirement residences
- There will be tolerance for, and encouragement of open displays of faith.
- You have opportunities to make new friends among fellow believers. Being in a community of faith may be important to your strength and encouragement, especially in times of difficulty.
- Many Christian seniors’ communities, including several of those above, offer lower fees. Many are, in fact, non-profit. If that’s your preference, cross-reference the list above with non-profit retirement homes.
- You may also find it comforting to receive care from people who are also professed Christians.
- Communities will, of course, offer organized services that encourage spiritual growth in ways you care about.
- An onsite chapel will allow you to worship. Chapels may have services tailored toward different denominations, such as specifically Presbyterian observances, etc.
- A faith-based community offers you the opportunity to grow and nurture your faith in new ways, given that you are in a group of senior peers.
Even if you are not as orthodox as some others, you know there is a benefit to being around spiritually-minded people. These include personal, health and social benefits.
The importance of focusing on care over faith
Care provided in a Christian community will meet standards followed by other communities, of course. However, you should follow the most practical senior care advice and getting the proper care you require. For example, even if the community offers assisted living, they might not offer care for incontinence. Be practical.
That said, several communities above offer a full continuum of care, ideal destinations for anyone no matter what their background.
Testimonials about the value of community with fellow believers
Seniors in Christian retirement homes have shared with us the immense value they put in being in this environment. Here are a few examples:
Ruth Brown, a senior at one Toronto Christian retirement home, puts it like this: “My faith is very important to me and I like living in a community where that’s openly supported. Faith is important here. We have a chapel, we have Bible study… staff and other members of the community acknowledge people’s faith. They’re encouraging, and sometimes you need that. I go to the Bible study Monday night but I‘m often a little late and of course everyone is very forgiving!”
Vivian at a Calgary Christian retirement home says, “You definitely feel the love here.”
Whether you are a lifelong Christian who finds you need a little extra help as you get older (or maybe you are just tired of living alone) or you are someone who has had an awakened or renewed sense of spirituality as you have matured, communities above offer a Christian environment that will enhance your experience as you move forward into the new world of retirement.