Senior living options in Ottawa come in a wide variety. We think that if you look around, you'll see many different options in where to move— seniors’ apartment towers, communities that focus on specific types of care such as dementia care, places that are very affordable and places that offer a wealth of amenities. The list above is very comprehensive and varied.
For all that, many seniors cling to beliefs that are limiting — to themselves. That is, many people don’t really live life as fully as they could. Living on their own, their traditional family home environment becomes a "burden" (as some admit) and they spend too much of their days doing things that bring them no joy. As April Johnstone says, "getting down on your hands and knees to get under the sink is something that people will simply no longer do."
Peggy speaks for many seniors when she says, "I think it’s a mistake to stay home." She moved into a Central Park community and loves how it's changed her life. "As people get older they should be with other people. And there are so many nice new people coming in that you can relate to because they’re your age. It’s a health problem if you fall at home, but there’s security and safety here." When you move into a retirement home, you pass many mundane daily activities onto other people. This gives you time to fully re-engage, perhaps as never before. You can do some things you may not have done in a while and maybe even discover passions and interests you've never given time to while you were raising a family, paying the mortgage, and maintaining a home. This is why they call it senior living!
To look at another example, Margaret moved into a community in Ottawa, and she's shared with us her love of "lots of activities" in the retirement apartment building where she now lives. "There’s something going on almost all of the time and you’re welcome anywhere. [The staff here] create such a welcoming, friendly atmosphere … [They really] make it a home for me." We encourage you to read our reviews, which offer more stories from inside Ottawa senior living homes.
Retirement communities continuously strive to provide physical, emotional and social support to seniors alongside the medical care they need through the implementation of daily activities as well as new and ongoing programs developed by coordinators and highly trained staff.
Communities keep residents busy, active and social with activity plans and full recreation programs such as:
- Bingo
- Cards and games
- Billiards and pool tables
- Gardening
- Movie nights
- Musical concerts and entertainment brought into the residence
- Special celebrations of local festivals and holidays
- Cocktail evenings
- Brain Fitness
- Continued education programs
Retirement communities in Ottawa also provide seniors with a number of different bus trips and outings, including:
- Weekly BBQ lunches at local parks
- Weekly shopping trips to Carlingwood Mall and other local shopping centers
- Trips to nearby Montebello, Tremblant, Merrickville and Brockville
- Visits to casinos, shows, and heritage runs
Many retirement homes in Ottawa offer wellness programs focused on keeping seniors healthy and strong. With access to a nursing team, physiotherapist and personal trainer who will work one-on-one with residents, active seniors can enjoy the focus on their fitness and wellness, including balance, core, cardio and strength training.
Other common amenities built into Ottawa retirement homes (especially some luxury retirement living communities in Ottawa) include swimming pools, theatres, craft and horticulture rooms, gardens, gyms, pubs and cafes. Underground parking is another common convenience included in rent for seniors who have their own vehicles. For those who don't, there are a number of transit options, taxi's and weekly bus trips offered by each residence.
Active seniors requiring less medical care will appreciate the variety of amenities in the surrounding Ottawa area, including:
- Museums, galleries and theatres
- Churches
- Festivals
- Historic sites
- Parks with walking and hiking areas (the Andrew Haydon Park and Rideau canal waterfront are popular choices)
A number of Ottawa’s most popular museums are situated close to Parliament Hill and explore much of Canada’s rich culture and history, such as the Canadian Museum of History, Canadian War Museum and Canada Aviation and Space Museum, as well as the National Gallery of Canada, Cumberland Heritage Village Museum, and Canada Science and Technology Museum.
While many of Ottawa’s retirement communities offer religious services, additional places of worship in the city include Saint Patrick’s Basilica, St. Luke’s Anglican Church of Canada, Joyful Land Buddhist Centre, Christ Church Cathedral, Knox Presbyterian Church, and Ottawa Mandarin Alliance Church. For additional faith services and locations, please ask your retirement communities of choice what’s available nearby.
For those interested in annual festivals and events, the National Women’s Show Ottawa (fall and spring), the Ottawa Winter Jazzfest, the Tulip Festival in early May and Glow Fair Festival are unique and exciting events to consider. Others include the Ottawa Dragonboat Festival, the Fringe Festival in June, the International Jazz Festival, Carnival of Cultures in June, Ottawa Bluesfest, Folk Festival, and Lumiere Lantern Festival. For additional festivals and events for specific times of the year, visit the Ottawa Tourism official website or check with the retirement community of your choice.
Pinhey’s Point, Rideau Canal and the public grounds of the Parliament buildings offer stunning views as examples of historic sites and common areas to walk or bike depending on a resident’s level of activity.
A number of other recreation facilities, classes, leisure groups and clubs are available to seniors in the area, including the Active Living Club 50+, which offers individual activities year-round or an annual membership, Big Band Dances at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre featuring classic 40’s and 50’s hits performed by Ottawa’s Big Bands, and cycling education programs.
There are city-operated seniors centres in both the east and west ends of Ottawa, as well as English and French community centres for seniors, such as the Abbotsford Senior Centre, Gloucester Senior Adults’ Centre, and the Roy G. Hobbs Seniors Centre. These centres offer programs and events that may not be available otherwise in the area and give seniors the opportunity to interact with other older adults in the community.
