• Canada’s guide to retirement living and care
• Retirement homes
• Ontario
• Ottawa Region

Independent Living Ottawa

Move forward into senior living

The move into an independent living retirement home in Ottawa is empowering. “I wanted it to be my decision,” says Margaret, from a community just off the 417 near downtown. “I wanted to move while I was still active and not wait until my family told me it was time.” If that or the desire for other improvements in your life resonates with you, look at this option.

Why you should move into independent living

Independent senior living is a whole new world. And it keeps getting better. Many who make this move come to the realization that it makes their entire lives better.

Here’s a look at the advantages of moving into an independent living community in Ottawa, including some things you might not have considered.

Living alone vs. living in community

In independent living retirement communities, there’s always someone to talk with right outside the door, as people say so often. Another refrain you will hear (and join in with) is, “There’s so much to do here.” Activity calendars in these communities get people together in a slate of fun activities that includes things to do, both within the community and outside.

One of the most acclaimed things about retirement homes is eating together with peers. This is often a time of humour, sharing, and simply great conversation. It’s like going out to dinner with friends every day. For many, dinner time recalls the days when they sat around the table with their own families. Leave loneliness, behind and join in the joy.

Freedom from chores

When you live in your own home, life can seem like one chore after another. Leave all those things behind. People are often amazed by how much fun you can have with all that extra time. In a senior living retirement community, “independence” comes in many different forms, some you might not have anticipated.

Features!

Many independent living retirement communities in Ottawa Region and area serve up five-star dining every night. Communities have onsite pubs and cafes that make eating a varied pleasure again. Swimming pools and exercise rooms are great places to meet up with friends and get moving together! Other features you can find in retirement homes might include a golf course, indoor putting green, onsite bistro, full-featured movie theatre, saltwater pool, hot tub or golf simulator … look around and be amazed!

Not every retirement home in Ottawa comes with those features, and you might feel some of them are extravagant. But you deserve it! When costs are shared by everyone, those features make life very pleasant for all.

Move into a brightly lit, updated space

Independent living retirement homes listed above are regularly updated. Many times, seniors hang onto a traditional family home long after its main features — bedrooms, living space, family neighbourhood, etc. — have outlived their relevance. If your home was built to standards from the 1960’s or earlier, it may have unnecessary hazards, like narrow hallways, steep stairs or an exterior porch prone to icing over. Suburban homes are not designed with the needs of seniors in mind Retirement communities are designed with wide open hallways, copious lighting, accessibility bars, and many other features that make them so much easier to get around in than your current home.

Take a full look at the pros and cons of independent living retirement homes. Before you choose a community, read our complete guide to finding the right retirement home.

A survey of costs of independent living suites in Ottawa

Here’s a quick survey of the costs of independent living suites in a variety of Ottawa Region locations. Remember that many of these communities offer a full slate of activities and feature superb amenities. The monthly cost is an umbrella for all living costs (covering everything from food to taxes to maintenance and everything in between).

This table gives you a broad range, only. Not all suite sizes are included per location or area of the city. Check the listings above for details about different rates charged by communities.