Our parents and grandparents deserve to live their retirement years in comfort.
And it is our obligation to ensure they always enjoy an independent, convenient, and fun-filled lifestyle.
If your older loved one is considering moving into a retirement home in Ontario, you should select an option that suits their taste and preference. But with over 700 communities in the province to choose from, picking a particular one can be tricky and challenging.
You must be meticulous in opting for a top-rated alternative living arrangement like Seasons Retirement, where the welfare of your relatives will be prioritized.
Seasons retirement has beautiful retirement communities in several locations in Ontario. Click here for information on the living costs in a retirement home in Ontario.
Whether your loved ones are moving to Ontario or already living in Ontario, pay attention to these factors to make the right choice for a retirement residence.
Six Factors to Consider Before Moving Your Loved One Into a Retirement Home
1. Cost
Cost is an essential factor to consider here. While paying attention to the quality of services offered at retirement homes, make sure not to neglect the cost of these residences.
It is worth noting that the cost of living in Ontario has increased over the last few years, influencing the cost of living in a retirement home. Thus, before moving your loved ones to an alternative living arrangement, it’s crucial to inquire about offers and costs.
The average cost of living in Ontario is about $2,341 per month. This is a rough estimate considering that there are many inconsistencies with the prices of maintenance, security, transportation, and utility bills.
In retirement homes, the cost of these services and other unknown variables will likely be simmered down. Depending on the accommodation type and care services provided, the cost of living in a retirement home in Ontario ranges between $1,500 and $6,000 per month.
Given that this is a pretty wide range, you should conduct some research before choosing a retirement home to pick one that suits you or your loved one’s budget and yet, still offers adequate amenities to meet the required needs.
2. Feeding and level of care
The cost and amenities offered in a retirement home are not the only things that matter. It is also best to consider the efficiency of the staff and the level of attention your loved one will be getting.
Retirement homes are required to provide adequate care to older adults so that they can enjoy an independent lifestyle without any troubles. Thus, an ideal retirement community will have staff committed to the well-being of older adults in their care.
Diligence, gentleness, tolerance, and availability are essential traits to look out for in staff members of retirement residences to ensure your loved one is in capable hands.
Another vital factor to look out for is the variety and nutritional value of foods available. This is because older people need more nutritious meals to maintain their health and prevent illnesses.
3. Security
Safety is everyone’s priority, and as such, any place or activity that can endanger one’s life should be avoided. Consequently, when moving to Ontario, check for the safety of the area where the retirement community is located.
Towns like LaSalle, Guelph, and Petawawa are among the safest cities in Ontario. For this reason, a retirement community like Seasons LaSalle has an edge and should be considered.
A safe retirement community should be well-fenced and have adequate security and alarm systems. Also, there should be efficient health care services.
If it’s not safe, it’s not worth moving into. So, before you move your loved ones into a retirement home, make sure to find out the community’s safety record.
4. Availability of basic amenities
Retirement homes are rated according to the quality of basic amenities they provide. These amenities include medics, kitchen, laundry, fitness room, internet service, barbering room/salon, chapel, swimming pool, walking track, transportation, etc.
Exercises for older adults are essential. Thus, retirement communities with adequate fitness rooms and outdoor fitness facilities should stand out.
Preference should also be given to retirement residences that organize outdoor events to allow your parents or grandparents to socialize and make new friends and connections.
5. Moving costs and road transport network
Moving costs in Ontario have increased over the last few years. Movers charge over $750 to $1000 for a two-bedroom residence and about $2000 to $3000 for a three-bedroom apartment.
However, this is dependent on some factors like distance and the time of the year. Shorter distances attract lower charges, and longer distances cost more. Also, moving costs are higher in the summer, considering the increased number of persons involved in vacation and relocations.
Furthermore, the road network to retirement communities should be considered since your loved one may regularly ply the road for outdoor events and doctor’s appointments.
Thus, if your loved one is moving to Ontario to stay in a retirement home, you should consider communities in close towns with good and accessible road networks to save time, money, and stress.
6. Reputation of the retirement home
Before moving your loved ones into a retirement home, one other necessary factor to consider is its reputation.
It takes years to create a reputation, and it says a lot about a retirement home. It stresses the location’s dependability and safety.
If your parents or grandparents have been admiring a particular neighborhood based on what they have heard or read about it, you should go check it out. It might be a good place for them to live.
Before making a decision, it’s also a good idea to look over a list of retirement homes in Ontario, as well as their ratings and reviews, to get a sense of their reputation.
Final thoughts
It’s always advised that people make proper inquiries before taking any action or decision. Moving to Ontario to settle in a retirement home is one of such instances where adequate investigations are required. Although moving to settle in another place may be challenging, it would be easier when done with sufficient knowledge.
This article should provide you with the needed information to choose a good retirement location in Ontario for your older relatives to move into.
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