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Continuing Care Toronto

Communities open to your changing needs

Many Toronto retirement homes offer a continuum of care that ranges from independent living to long term care. This allows seniors to move into a home where they can age in place and not have to worry about moving again. If they move into a continuing care retirement residence while they are still independent, this choice wisely anticipates changes in the seniors' care needs.

A closer look at continuous care communities

The care offered in these homes will include independent or assisted living, and will extend to things like catheter care and other tube care. A number of these progressive-minded communities have long term care facilities onsite or conveniently nearby. A number of recent developments in the Greater Toronto Area stand as excellent examples of planned communities where seniors can move in when they are still very independent and can age in place, as further kinds of care are also available onsite. Parkland on the Glen in Mississauga is one uniquely flexible environment where people can purchase condo ownership and live independently then move lager to a dedicated assisted floor in the same building.

These continuing care communities contrast with other retirement residences in the city that focus on a specific type of care. For example, Delmanor Prince Edward in Etobicoke focuses mainly on independent living. A number of newer facilities springing up in Toronto and elsewhere in the GTA are designed for memory care and are focused exclusively on care for dementia. Many long-term care communities throughout the city are also stand alone.

There are some great advantages offered by a continuum of all levels of care on one campus. Continuing care communities create a village-style atmosphere where people of many different abilities can all congregate. They also allow couples to remain in close proximity, though their care needs may be very different from each other.

As the population of Toronto (and every city) ages, there are increasingly distinctive, smarter, integrative approaches to care and community. Active lifestyle communities are adapting their model to allow for care to be provided to community members as they age. Large, new planned communities look ahead to the coming age crunch, and are built likewise. For example, health care facilities may be part of a planned bungalow community tailored to those 55 and older. In its own way, this type of community might be considered next generation "continuing care." 

What is continuing care?

Continuing care is defined differently by different authorities. The definition we are working with is a continuum of senior care offered under one roof, ranging ideally from independent living to long term care. The phrase "complex continuing care" is used by some other health authorities to mean something distinct (see our glossary). Still, some health care facilities within retirement communities offer rehabilitation and ongoing care for clients with chronic conditions ranging from stroke recovery to diabetes to recovery from other surgeries. This convalescent continuing care is considered a non-permanent stay. As the health care and senior care industries evolve, expect to see more of this integrated approach to care, rehabilitation, and senior living.

The phrase is also used by home care service providers to define the service they offer. 

Continuing care at home, in Toronto

A number of Toronto home care agencies offer continuing care at home. In this case, health services are delivered in the home, allowing seniors to remain independent in their own house, while having basic care needs covered. In Toronto and elsewhere in the province, the LHIN has difficulty keeping up with demand, so they welcome the idea of seniors hiring private home care.

This care may be a continuation of previous health care offered in a hospital or clinical setting. Care services available include care with bathing, dressing, transferring and other help within the home. There are further advantages to this, including companionship services, like grocery shopping and even simple things like going for walks. This type of care in the home is encouraging for seniors, allowing them to continue healing.  Many people find this to be a "best of both worlds" scenario, where they get the care they need but remain in the home they love.