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Vaughan Retirement Homes

The complete guide to finding a retirement community in the Vaughan region

Vaughan, located in the York Region, is one of the fastest growing cities in Ontario. The city has a variety of retirement options for seniors in the York area, from independent apartments to long-term care. The home of Wonderland and the McMichael Gallery, Vaughan is rich in arts, culture and recreational opportunities that speak to seniors with all types of interests.

Types of retirement care in Vaughan

Retirement communities in Vaughan serve seniors living in the amalgamated towns of Woodbridge, Concord, Maple, and Kleinburg, as well as in the surrounding York Region. There are three main types of retirement care in Ontario – independent living, assisted living and long-term care, all of which are available in Vaughan.

Independent Living

Seniors who wish to remain independent can choose to live in a resort-style independent residence. These communities – which exist in the form of apartments or town homes, allow residents to continue living on their own terms, but with the benefits of added safety, amenities and living amongst other seniors.

Assisted Living

Many of the retirement homes in Vaughan offer a continuum of care, where residents can take advantage of both independent and assisted living options. Assisted living is just what it sounds like – residents can opt for assistance with everyday tasks, meal and laundry services, as well as personal care such as foot care and medication management, depending on their needs. The best part about continued care is that residents can remain in the same community among friends and familiar staff as their activity and medical circumstances change.

Long-term Care

Long-term care communities in Vaughan offer more comprehensive care to seniors with more challenging medical needs and cognitive decline. These communities serve seniors that require more extensive care in a safe and home-like environment, and provide services such as medication supervision, music therapy and 24 hour nursing.

Read Vaughan retirement home reviews and find the best York Region seniors' community for you!

Retirement community benefits, services and amenities

Modern retirement homes place an importance on helping residents keep healthy, creative and engaged. Vaughan’s retirement communities strive to meet this goal by providing a wide range of services and activities within their residences, but also using the health care services and recreational attractions in the York region to the advantage of their residents. Assisted living and long-term care, and in part independent living communities, are equipped with preventative health care programs and services. Many residences employ registered nurses, visiting or regular doctors, personal support workers and nurse’s aids that are responsible for resident wellness. Some examples of the health care services offered include:

• 24/7 nursing care
• Medication assistance services
• Exercise programs with access to a personal trainer
• Nutritional meals and special attention to dietary needs
• Physiotherapy
• Preventative wellness programs
• Recuperative programs
• Assistance with daily living activities including bathing, dressing, nutrition and mobility
• Monitoring of blood pressure and blood sugar
• Foot care
• Therapy options e.g. Music and Aroma therapy
• Palliative care services
• Emotional, cognitive and social support
• Assistance with walking
• Pain and symptom management
• Advanced Alzheimer’s and Dementia therapy and care
• Continence care needs

Safety measures are also a part of preventative health care. Retirement homes have sensitive alarm systems installed, and assisted living and long-term care suites are equipped with emergency call systems that will alert staff to an emergency. Bathrooms will also be specially designed, often with sit-down showers, grab bars, non-slip floors and in some cases, night lighting.

Although it is one of the fastest growing cities in the province, Vaughan does not have a full service hospital. In case an emergency does occur, residents would receive care at either Humber River Regional Hospital in Toronto, Brampton Civic Hospital to the west, or Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital to the east. Today’s understanding of health is not limited to medical care, however, but encompasses emotional, social and physical health.

One of the benefits of living in a retirement community is the commitment to all these branches of wellness. Activities and events such as fitness classes, artistic courses, residence parties, game nights, gardening and concerts are regularly run in retirement communities. Some of the most popular places for seniors to spend time and explore outside their retirement community are the Boyd Conservation Area and Kortright Centre for Conservation, located in Woodbridge, and the famous McMichael Canadian art collection in Kleinburg. Patrons of the arts can also enjoy an evening at the City Playhouse theatre or take in a day at the Vaughan of A Kind Art and Craft Show. The copper creek golf club and Kleinburg golf club are popular with active golfers. More adventurous seniors can also spend the day at Canada’s largest amusement park – Canada’s Wonderland!

Shopping and grocery stores are close to all of Vaughan’s retirement homes, but the city’s largest shopping centre is Vaughan Mills, located at Rutherford and Highway 400. The centre has a mix of outlet and specialty stores, as well as entertainment and dining options. Residents can choose to discover all of Vaughan’s attractions of their own, but retirement homes often provide residents with organized outings, whether it is on a shopping trip or to a community festival. The beauty of retirement living is having access to care and recreation at home, as well as staying engaged in the community.

Vaughan retirement community regulations

Every retirement home within the province of Ontario is subject to regulations set by the Retirement Home Regulatory Authority. Homes must undergo ongoing inspections and maintain a high standard of safety and cleanliness in order to receive approval from the RHRA. Only those retirement homes that have a good standing with this authority can remain operational. In order to ensure you or your loved one(s) will stay safe and be properly cared for, always make sure to check that the community you are considering is licensed by the RHRA.

In addition to regulations set by the RHRA, the Long-Term Care Homes Act of 2007 governs all long-term care homes in Ontario. The act requires residences to provide safe, consistent and high-quality resident-centred care and makes sure residents feel at home, are treated with dignity and respect, and have the health care services they need available to them.

Membership in other organizations is a further sign that a retirement community will be safe and well-managed. Industry experts recommend looking for a retirement community that is a member of one or more of the following trusted associations:

• The Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA) 
• The Ontario Long-term Care Association (OLTCA) 
• AdvantAge Ontario (formerly the Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes and Services for Seniors: OANHSS) 
• The Canadian Association of Retired People (CARP)

How much does a retirement home in Vaughan cost?

A typical room in a Vaughan residence hovers around the provincial average of $3, 200 per month. However, the monthly cost of a suite varies with the type of suite and amount of care you or our loved one(s) choose. Additional fees can come from television, meal and personal laundry services. Retirement homes in Ontario are well regulated, safe and welcoming. Unfortunately, this also means the province’s vacancy rates have dropped to about 13 percent. Due to low vacancy rates, you or your loved one may have to spend time on a wait-list before being accepted to the residence of your choice. When making your decision, keep in mind that certain factors will inform costs and the length of wait times, including:

• Crisis placement (if someone’s safety poses immediate risk)
• Type of accommodation: basic, semi-private or private or secure floor (Private or semi-private are more expensive but have shorter wait-times)
• Gender
• Medical care needs i.e. tube-feeding
• Unit designation- secure, non- secure

There are also a number of affordable housing options in the Vaughan region. 228 geared to income units exist between Hespurus Village and Mapleglen Residences. However, the wait-list times for affordable housing are generally rather long. Some of the most common ways of paying for retirement are through savings, pensions, Canadian Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Pension. The sale of the family home is also a good way to finance retirement costs. The City of Vaughan provides an “Elderly Resident’s Assistance Grant” to those over the age of 65 who have owned a home in the city for over a year and receive the Guaranteed Income Supplement. The Government of Ontario can also be helpful when it comes to additional expenses, such as home care or prescription expenses. Seniors with high prescription drug costs relative to their income may benefit from applying to the Trillium Drug Program. Ontario citizens over the age of 65 who live in Ontario and have a valid Ontario health card are eligible for application.

Other health and safety services in Vaughan

Of Vaughan’s 300,000 residents, 63,000 are seniors, and the city has a number of health and safety services, as well as recreational programs, specifically for this growing demographic. The city recognizes that providing seniors with access to information is one of the most important ways to support the 55+ population. Access Vaughan, a telephone service that provides callers with fast information about municipal programs was recently introduced and the Vaughan library network is also a fantastic resource. Library staff can help seniors use multilingual resources such as computers to find information, especially about medical care and retirement communities. Vaughan libraries also offer a number of senior-specific services, such as book deliveries for those who have trouble with mobility and providing magnifiers for easier reading. Free legal help is also offered on the first Monday of each month at the city’s libraries.

Seniors centres and community centres are located all around the city, and offer daily and weekly programs that focus on senior health. Yoga, Pilates, tai chi, arthritis fitness and zumba are some of the more fitness-oriented programs offered, while walk and talk, line dancing and painting classes focus on the social and creative aspects of getting older. Nutrition programs are also offered at Vaughan’s community centres. These programs are open to both seniors living at home and in retirement communities. In fact, residences often work with community centres to give residents access to more facilities and events. The nearby Thornhill Seniors club, sponsored by many of the York Region’s retirement residences, runs a variety of recreational activities and events for older adults. From Euchre and Poker Tournaments to celebrating Halloween and National Seniors Day, this club connects seniors all across the city.

The Seniors’ Association of Vaughan Initiative (SAVI) and the Elspeth Heyworth Centre share a mission in reaching out to seniors in the community. The Elspeth Heyworth centre aims to provide seniors with physical and mental exercise and end social isolation by providing workshops and activities to those living at home. SAVI, which partners with the centre, is responsible for a number of senior-centric programs and events, from Senior’s Summits that provide recommendations to the Vaughan city council to Seniorsfest and Senior Information Day. Caregivers and seniors living at home can take advantage of a number of private home health care, meal delivery and home maintenance companies, as well as public support centres such as the Alzheimer’s Society of York Region. Many retirement residences also provide opportunities for overnight respite, giving caregivers a night off, and seniors a night out.

Getting around Vaughan

Active seniors can get around the city using public transit. The city of Vaughan shares a public transit system with the entire York Region. The York Region/Viva transit can take patrons across the York Region, which is divided into three zones. Vaughan residents can travel around the first zone, which included Vaughan, Markham and Richmond Hill, for an initial fare, and can take the bus all the way to Newmarket and Georgina with fare upgrades. Reduced fares are available to those above the age of 65 when ID is provided. Seniors who have trouble with mobility can also take advantage of the YRT/Viva system. All buses are equipped with priority seating in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians act of 2005, and mobility-challenged and disabled seniors can apply for Mobility Plus, the York Region’s accessible bus service. Most retirement homes also have their own accessible buses that are often used for organized group day-trips. Reserved parking is also available at retirement homes to residents who drive.

Be sure to read our Brampton retirement home reviews before you commit to any senior care community in the Vaughan area.

How to choose a retirement home in Vaughan

Choosing a retirement home is a big decision, but with a little help from our website, it doesn’t have to be stressful.. It’s important to start thinking about retirement before a time of crisis. Begin to ask yourself or your loved ones the following questions before you start your search:

• What do you want?
• What you need?
• What you can afford?
• What is your preferred location?

You can use our retirement calculator to get an idea of what you’ll be able to afford in your retirement. Once you know the answers to these questions, you can start creating a short-list of potential retirement communities in Vaughan. Visiting retirement communities allows you or your loved one to see the facilities and amenities first hand and ask questions face to face. Asking questions is also an important part of the process. If you are unsure what to ask about, download our retirement checklist e-book! On of the most important questions to ask is whether the homes offer an overnight stay, where potential residents can spend a night at the residence. This experience can help you or your loved one decide between residences. Many Vaughan retirement homes offer this option to interested seniors. Start your search today by using our advanced search , or contacting the residences in and around Vaughan shown below!