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Victoria Retirement Homes & Communities

Your complete guide to finding great senior living and care in Victoria

The city of Victoria and other Vancouver Island destinations present some of the world’s most ideal retirement home locations.  The variety of Victoria’s senior home include apartment-style rooms, condominiums or a suite of rooms. Seniors here are a wide variety of personalized services, including meals, medication, housekeeping, laundry and recreation activities. Retirement homes we list are all privately owned and operated, offering exceptional service and care.

More about retirement in Victoria

• Seniors care you can expect from homes here
• Regulation and costs of Victoria retirement homes
• Retiring in Victoria

Retirement homes offer a range of improvements over in-home care and other options families maybe considering. Here, there are recreation programs, social events and many other activities that help seniors remain active and healthy. 

Several Victoria homes offer assisted living. Assisted living senior homes provide supervision or assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs). Seniors are given help with activities such as bathing, grooming and eating. Additional medical services and registered care providers are available if required. Assisted living is particularly suited to seniors who are comparatively healthy and do not require extended medical attention.

Read Victoria retirement home reviews for all communities, before you commit to a retirement residence.

These types of retirement residences are distinct from BC’s publicly run nursing homes that provide round-the-clock care and medical aid. Long term care homes (or nursing homes, as they are still sometimes called) provide the most comprehensive level of nursing care for seniors who may be infirm or require palliative care. Here, skilled nurses and doctors are available to take care of the medical needs of the elderly.

Care you will receive in Victoria and area retirement homes

The Victoria homes and communities listed here offer services and amenities including:

• medical specialty services
• dining room
• personal laundry and housekeeping
• entertainment and in-house games
• personal care including spas or beauty salons
• personal attendance including bathing and dressing help, if needed

Some of the exceptional homes listed here will allow pets and will offer highly personalized care and suites that are tailored to meet your lifestyle. Activities and amenities will vary on a home-by-home basis so please contact each retirement home. Victoria's senior population is increasing rapidly. Almost all families today have at least one senior member who needs care services or will need care in the next few years. Before you retire, be aware of your rights, understand your housing options (retirement homes are changing dramatically and improving immensely all the time!) and understand regulation of the industry, and how that affects you and your loved ones. 

Senior condos throughout the city offer freedom from home maintenance, including cutting the grass, shoveling snow and other general upkeep. Here, you'll move into a secure building and live in community with fellow seniors, where you finally have time to explore passions and interests you've neglected for too long. You'll find seniors condominium communities in Victoria that have golf facilities on site, swimming and more. Today's senior communities are built to pleasantly surprise!

Regulation and costs of Victoria retirement homes

BC retirement homes are not necessarily regulated by the government. Long term care and assisted living homes are covered under BC’s Community Care and Assisted Living Act. Independent living retirement homes in Victoria will generally fall under the auspices of the BC Seniors Living Association (BCSLA), which offers homes a Stamp of Approval; make sure that homes you are looking into have the BCSLA Stamp.

Costs for retirement homes in Victoria are slightly lower or comparable to what you will pay in Vancouver, while and homes in towns outside of Victoria cost less. Here’s a specific look.

Cost comparison of some Vancouver Island and area retirement homes

• Independent living home in Victoria: $3500 (starting cost)
• Independent living home in Duncan, BC: $2775 (starting cost)
• Independent living home in metro Vancouver, BC: $3550 (starting cost)

Get a broader picture of the costs of BC retirement homes.  

Retiring and living in Victoria

Victoria is a destination for people from around the world, a spectacular place to live and an even better place to retire! Here’s a look at some great reasons to retire in Victoria:

• lower real estate prices and cost of living than in Vancouver and area
• an average annual rainfall that is half of that for Vancouver
• moderate weather that facilitates year-round health and outdoor activities
• laid back living in a friendly community

Victoria is one of BC's best places to retire!

There are many services and amenities tailored to make senior living in Vancouver ideal. These include public transit services like the following:

• BC Transit’s universal bus pass that allows for unlimited travel for seniors. 
• HandyDART is another service from BC Transit; this offers specialized service for passengers with wheelchairs/scooters or other special mobility requirements. You do need to register as a client for this service and reserve in advance.
• Taxi Saver is yet another service ideal for some seniors. This is available when handyDART cannot handle a client’s needs. Seniors and others with mobility needs can combine this with handyDART services. You must be a handyDART user to partake of this service.

Health benefits for retirees on Vancouver Island 

If you are already living on Vancouver Island you are already reaping the health benefits of living near the ocean. But for those considering the move to Vancouver Island, proximity to the ocean has a variety of health benefits that can alleviate many health problems and even extend your life — so you can enjoy your retirement even longer. Moderate temperature is one factor, but there are other benefits you will gain from living near the ocean:

• Fresh ocean air is charged with negative ions that accelerate oxygen absorption and balance levels of serotonin
• If you live right on the ocean, the sound of waves is known to alter  brain wave patterns and provide a lulling effect
• Low snowfall rates on Vancouver Island mean no shoveling and reduced risk of heart attacks and other injuries
• Increased sunshine (as you will get in Victoria, against what is usual for Vancouver) has many health benefits

Vacancy rates for Vancouver Island real estate are very low, of course, so inquire as soon as the consideration comes up.