Lists of reports on this page:
Find care details, insights, and insider perspectives gained from 20+ years of helping seniors and families.
What to know about this topic:
Assisted living care offered in Toronto retirement homes helps residents with at least one limitation in cognition or physical health. While residents require help with at least one activity of daily living, care may extend to any or all of the following areas: personal care like bathing or dressing, eating, medication management, mobility, incontinence, grooming and hygiene.
IN-DEPTH REPORTSAssisted living in Toronto
Baycrest Terraces
We are Toronto's Finest Kosher Retirement Residence located on the Baycrest campus. We offer Independent & Assisted Living and Memory Care. Baycrest Terraces, "Where Life Thrives". Call us today for more information.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
Greenview Seniors Residence - Metta Lifestyles
At Greenview Residence, we offer a complete range of care services in a welcoming environment. Whether it's our compassionate staff, fresh homemade meals, or exciting and engaging activities, you will truly feel at home.
Lifestyle Options: Assisted Living, Memory Care
Aspira Kensington Place Retirement Living
A resort-like retirement residence in Toronto featuring a fitness centre, beauty salon and a variety of other luxuries, including a private dining room and more.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
The Briton House
Family-owned and operated, the Briton House is dedicated to the highest standards of service. Offering a full continuum of care, a variety of amenities and suites, home-cooked meals, and a 15,000 sq. ft. indoor garden.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
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
Queens Estate Retirement Residence - Metta Lifestyles
At Queens Estate, we offer a complete range of care services in a welcoming environment. Whether it's our compassionate staff, fresh homemade meals, or exciting and engaging activities, you will truly feel at home.
Lifestyle Options: Assisted Living, Memory Care
The Dunfield Retirement Residence
The Dunfield Retirement Residence has established a new standard in senior retirement living in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with 177 spacious apartments. Where people come to LIVE!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
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
Delmanor Prince Edward
Situated in a treed ravine setting overlooking the Humber River, Delmanor Prince Edward provides vistas that vary from the serenity of the adjacent valley to the resplendence of the Toronto downtown skyline!
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Don Mills Retirement Residence - Verve Senior Living
A luxury senior living community in the heart of North York. Be inspired by beautifully appointed amenities in our state-of-the-art building offering exceptional care, intelligent technology & exciting life enrichment.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
Hazelton Place Retirement Residence - Verve Senior Living
Luxury and quality is in every corner of Hazelton from its lobby to its inviting Bistro & Bar. Offering amenities and services, Hazelton makes it easy for you to define and enjoy your lifestyle.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
Canterbury Place Retirement Residence - Verve Senior Living
Canterbury Place offers a variety of suites styles in an elegant condo-like building for active adults & those needing assistance. We offer a unique healthcare program for our residents including palliative care.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living
The Village of Humber Heights
The Village of Humber Heights is a retirement community that offers various lifestyle options and levels of services ranging from independent living with meals, to assisted living, memory care, and long-term care.
Lifestyle Options: Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Long-term care
Parkland on Eglinton West
Parkland on Eglinton West offers Lifestyle Apartments, All-Inclusive Lifestyle and Supportive Lifestyle options for seniors. Parkland makes it easy for you to do more of what you love!
Lifestyle Options: Apartments, Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care
IN-DEPTH REPORTSHome care companies in Toronto
In-Home Assisted Living Inc.
In-Home Assisted Living offers caregivers and nurses to help seniors and people with medical challenges to remain living in their own home with safety and comfort. Also ask about our hospital bedside support.
Lifestyle Options: Respite care, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Long-term care, Home Care
Nurse For Care
We offer Caregiver, PSW & RPN services in a Customized, Affordable way to all ages & needs in GTA, Hamilton, Durham, Sudbury or anywhere in Ontario at Home, Hospital, Rehab, Retirement home, & Long-term care facilities.
Lifestyle Options: Respite care, Assisted Living, Memory Care, Long-term care, Home Care
There are a variety of different assisted living facilities all through the city of Toronto, but not all are created equal. Some facilities are government run, while others are privately held. Some assisted living facilities can be house-sized while others are in large retirement villages, home to hundreds of residents. Unit styles can range from private studios to two bedroom apartments with various accoutrements that may include a kitchenette and kitchen appliances. In terms of the continuum of care, this falls between independent senior living and long-term care.
This care option is almost always found in a retirement residence with somewhat typical amenities including:
- central dining where residents are free to socialize with others in the community
- housekeeping provided on at least a weekly basis, including laundry services, bed changes
- communal events that are optional but bring people together
Many of the assisted living facilities here at Comfort Life are newer, with cleaner living quarters, fully updated accessibility features, lots of space and lots of privacy.
In addition to the basics, homes offer a variety of features to make life better. For example, homes with hair salons are great for elderly women who want to have their hair done regularly. Homes with fitness rooms or exercise area, help people grow stronger, and empower them to improve and care for their own wellness.
How families can talk about assisted living
The move into a retirement home may be resisted on the part of some seniors — and also family — who feel that this compromises their independence or is a sign of somehow "giving up." Homes offer care that cannot be found anywhere else, and are the best solution to concerns about deteriorating health, home safety or a growing inability to care for oneself. Moving into assisted living can be seen as a proactive, positive response to problems with aging.
Self-sufficiency is a strong value held by people who grew up in the early 20th century, and so it is very difficult to admit the need for help. People's minds can be changed by looking at some of the excellent retirement communities there are, and also by hearing stories from others who have taken the time to let down their pre-conceptions and come around to moving into a senior care home.
In the past, we have talked to Muriel who loves the 24 hour tea room in her retirement home. She doesn't ever pay anything extra, there was never anything like this in her old neighbourhood, and every time she pops into the tea room, one of her friends is there or she makes a new one. As she told us, "there's always someone to sit and talk to."
Moving into an assisted living home, seniors come to appreciate the beauty of the fact that they no longer have to worry about a whole host of things including (but certainly not limited to) shoveling the walk, paying the property taxes, taking out the garbage, washing the dishes, covering the hydro bill… the list goes on, of course. Seniors who move into one of these assisted living facilities may echo the words of Nick, another resident we've heard from, who tells us, "I've never had it so good."
As much as possible, family needs to involve aging seniors in the discussion, and to empower them with information to make the decision as much their own as anyone else's. At Comfort Life we list a variety of exceptional Toronto retirement homes that make the move into assisted living appealing and welcoming. Moving into a community with others, some of whom share the same health concerns and background can help make life better for seniors in need. Many people find a new circle of friends and find happiness in the social aspect of retirement homes.
Assisted living homes make everyone's life better through the use of assistive devices, design for accessibility and caring nursing staff who respond professionally to the needs of seniors.
Assisted living costs in Toronto: a survey
Toronto has some of the priciest real estate in Canada, everyone knows, and this affects the cost of assisted living homes here also. Given its place on the continuum of care, assisted living is not quite as expensive as long term care, but more so than independent living.
Here's a look at several examples of assisted living rates people are paying in suburbs across the GTA:
City |
Starting cost/mo |
What's included |
Etobicoke, ON |
$3600 |
Basic dining and housekeeping |
Whitby, ON |
$4400 |
Basic meals and many care options, including bathing, dressing and medication administration |
Brampton, ON |
$2550 |
Meals, bathing assistance, medicine administration |
Pickering, ON |
$3980 |
Meals, transfer assistance, incontinence care and various other care options |
Vaughan, ON |
$3990 |
Meals and many types of assistance including transfer, feeding, dressing and medication |
This is just a sampling of what you might pay; a similar survey with some inclusions from 2018 can be found on our Ontario costs page's survey of Toronto assisted living costs. Consult each assisted living home for its individual rates.
It's really a must to look at a variety of options around the GTA in order to find the ideal solution for your elderly loved one. We provide a retirement home checklist you can take to each home to compare them all one-to-one and get the best overall picture of which one is right for you.
Covering the costs of assisted living may be easier than you think. The monthly rates listed above are a single payment covering everything. It's easy to match up your total monthly resources (including everything from OAS to work pensions and perhaps even help from other family members). We have further advice on how other people pay for senior care.
Are you ready to move?
In our new guide, we look at facing some last minute fears, how communities welcome people, getting the full benefit of this life-change and more.
Take a full look at how to adjust to assisted living.
Moving into assisted living is not an easy choice but it's one you can make with an easier frame of mind once you go out and look at today's superb quality retirement homes and go into this life choice fully informed. Care today is an immense improvement over that of the past, regulation and compliance are important to the entire industry, and homes like those listed on Comfort Life offer care that is far better than what seniors and families are capable of providing.