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The Difference Between a Retirement Home and a Long Term Care Home

There are a lot of differences between a retirement home and a long term care home. Even though they are both places where seniors can live, the cost, services, and moving in process are very different.

Here is a clear understanding of what these residences are and how they are different.

A group of seniors making a toast
What is a Retirement Home?
A retirement home, also called a retirement residence or senior home, is where a community of seniors live. Focused around flexibility and independence, these types of retirement residences offer a lot of choice. Residents can choose to enjoy a fully independent lifestyle or have some care and personalized services. You might be asking “How old do you have to be to live in a retirement home?” and you will be pleased to know that there are residents from a range of ages, from their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s to centenarians. In a retirement home, you have your own suite, create your own schedule, and can come and go as you please. You choose your own meals and how you like to spend your time – whether it’s on your own or with the people who live in the community, taking part in social activities, exercise classes, or outings. It’s all up to you.
A senior woman working with a caregiver
What is a Long Term Care Home or Nursing Home?
A long term care home, also sometimes called a nursing home, is centred around 24/7 supervised care. Those who qualify for long term care are seniors who need a high level of care, require continuous supervision, or can no longer take care of themselves independently (e.g. eating, bathing, dressing). Long term care homes will have 24-hour monitoring, and round-the-clock nursing and staff within the residence. Meals are served within a central area and prepared with dietary restrictions and requirements in mind. Revera long term care homes focus on person-centred care which includes physical, social, intellectual and spiritual activities. In selecting a long term care home there are some requirements such as a referral from a physician or agency.
Differences Between a Retirement Home and Long Term Care Home
Cost, types of services, and the overall process is different when it comes to moving into a retirement home or long term care or nursing home. Here are some of the differences between the two, so you can determine which option makes sense for you or your loved one.
Revera provides personalized care and services, no matter the residence.

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Retirement Home Costs
The individual or family member is responsible for the total monthly cost of living in a retirement home.
Long Term Care or Nursing Home Costs
The individual or family member is responsible for a partial amount of the total cost. The other portion is covered through the government.
Retirement Home Services

Retirement home services can include:

  • Full-service dining
  • Housekeeping
  • Laundry
  • Recreation programs
  • Modern amenities (fitness centre, hair salon, library etc.)
  • Parking and/or transportation for outings/outings transportation
  • Care services (falls prevention, wellness programs, and access to nursing services)
Long Term Care Home Services

Long term care services are heavily centred around care. These types of services can include:

  • Medication administration
  • Meals service and special diets
  • 24 Hour Nursing Care
  • 24 Hour Staff
  • Injury Reduction
  • Falls Management
  • Emergency Call System
  • Physiotherapy
  • Assistance with essential activities of daily living 
  • Social, recreational and spiritual programs
Choosing a Retirement Home
If you’re considering moving into a retirement residence or have a loved one who may be, there are many Revera residences across Canada. You can arrange a visit to tour any residence, at any time. Our doors are always open.

Choosing a Long Term Care Home

In order to move into a nursing home or long term care home, there are some requirements such as a referral from a physician or agency. Once a referral is completed, the agency will provide some choices based on the level of care needed, and will notify you when a spot becomes available. If you’re deciding which long term care home might be right for your loved one, or if you have questions around long term care, you can always call or arrange a visit at one of our Revera long term care homes across Canada. No one with a referral to a long term care home can be turned away, although you should be aware than sometimes the wait list can be extensive.

See a list of agencies by province

Download the Retirement Tour Checklist
Download the Long Term Care Tour Checklist
Have Questions? Feel free to contact us to ask any questions you might have. A Senior Living Advisor is always willing/able to help and provide you with any information you need.

Retirement Home & Long Term Care Home FAQs

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Faces of Revera

Tom Wellner
President & CEO
Since joining Revera in early 2014, Mr. Wellner has led the organization through transformational changes, developing the company’s strategic direction to grow, innovate and lead in the sector. He has worked with a number of strategic partners in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K. to grow Revera’s portfolio to more than 500 properties internationally. The beginnings of his career at Eli Lilly, where he held a variety of global operational and leadership roles, have been followed by years of global experience in biotech, pharmaceuticals and health care services, having previously lead a number of organizations including LifeLabs, CML HealthCare and Therapure Biopharma.
John Beaney
Senior VP – Retirement
Since joining Revera in 2010, Mr. Beaney has been a leader in driving transformational strategic initiatives and delivering strong results across the company’s areas of business, with senior roles in Home Health, Long Term Care, and Retirement. Mr. Beaney is a true believer in the power of the team, prioritizing collaboration aimed at making the resident experience as positive as possible. He is an avid public speaker, and regularly provides training to large and small groups so he can coach others and learn with them. Prior to joining Revera, Mr. Beaney held leadership roles with Chartwell and Schlegel Villages, and international leadership roles in the communications & technology sector in Asia Pacific, Europe & North America, including IBM. He has also served on the Boards of the Ontario Retirement Communities Association, and the Ontario Long Term Care Association.
Wendy Gilmour
Senior VP, Long Term Care

Wendy Gilmour’s experience in leading private and public sector organizations has given her deep insights into the health care system, and fostered her passion for person-centred care. Her previous roles include Senior Vice President of Operations at CML Healthcare, and Vice President of Clinical Support Services at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

Ms. Gilmour, who holds an MBA from the University of Alberta, suggests that in her area conventional measures aren’t enough. “You can’t measure compassion,” she says. In leading Revera’s Long Term Care team, Ms. Gilmour focuses on providing a happy, safe and supportive environment for some 10,000 residents and staff across the country.
Dr. Rhonda Collins
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Rhonda Collins brings passion and expertise in memory care, dementia, falls prevention and clinical quality improvement to the role of Chief Medical Officer – a first for the seniors living sector in Canada.

Dr. Collins is a family physician with a certificate of added competence in Care of the Elderly from the College of Family Physicians of Canada. She has been lead physician for the Outpatient Primary Care Memory Clinic at Shaver Hotel Dieu Health and Rehabilitation Centre in St. Catharines, and Medical Director and attending physician for several long term care homes in the Niagara Region. She regularly consults on neuropsychiatric behaviours of dementia for the Niagara Seniors Mental Health Outreach program. She is Associate Clinical Professor with the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University School of Medicine where she developed and leads a Care of the Elderly rotation for family medicine residents.