Long-Term Care Homes in London, Ontario: 2026 Costs and Waitlists

The SeniorHome.ca directory lists 61 senior living communities in London, Ontario, of which 25 appear under nursing homes and long-term care in London. Only 7 publish rates; the median published starting rate is $2,916 a month, with most starting between $2,418 and $3,351. Publicly funded long-term care beds, though, are not booked directly — placement runs through Ontario Health atHome.

At a glance

• 61 communities in London overall; 25 listed under long-term care and nursing homes.
• Published starting rates in the directory: $2,358 to $3,351 a month, median $2,916; the highest published top rate is $6,435.
• Other care types in London: 8 assisted living, 7 retirement residences, 5 independent living, 4 memory care, 9 home care, 5 respite care, 3 palliative care, 1 adult day program.
• Placement for publicly funded long-term care in Ontario is arranged through Ontario Health atHome — its London office is on Oxford Street West.
• Retirement homes (a different category from long-term care) are licensed by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), which keeps a public register.
• Ontario sets long-term care accommodation co-payments, and a rate reduction is available for low-income residents.

How many long-term care homes are in London?

Twenty-five London listings in the SeniorHome.ca directory offer nursing-home level care, out of 61 senior living communities in the city.

That count includes true residences as well as agencies that support people living in long-term care. The residences in the data are spread across the city: Dearness Home for Senior Citizens on Southdale Road East, Earls Court Village on Highbury Avenue North, Chelsey Park on Oxford Street West, AgeCare London on Blackwater Road, and McCormick Care Foundation on Kains Road, which is listed for long-term care, memory care, assisted living and retirement living on one campus.

If you are not yet sure long-term care is the right level, the free care assessment walks through daily needs first. It is also worth reading Ontario: long-term care vs retirement homes, because the two are funded and regulated very differently.

How does long-term care placement work in Ontario?

You apply through Ontario Health atHome, not by signing a lease with the home.

In Ontario, long-term care placement and publicly funded home care are both arranged through Ontario Health atHome (formerly Home and Community Care Support Services). A care coordinator assesses the applicant, confirms eligibility, and helps build a list of preferred homes. You can name homes anywhere in the province, and you are placed from a waitlist when a bed that matches your application becomes available.

Two practical points families miss. First, the homes themselves cannot move you up a list — the coordinator manages it. Second, retirement residences are a separate system: they are licensed by the RHRA, you apply directly, and you pay the full private rate. Browse retirement residences in London if that is the route you are considering while waiting.

How much does long-term care cost in London?

In a publicly funded long-term care bed you pay a provincially set accommodation co-payment, not a market rent — and a rate reduction is available if income is low.

Ontario sets the daily co-payment for basic, semi-private and private accommodation, so the basic rate is the same in every licensed home in the province. Nursing and personal care are funded separately. Residents whose income cannot cover the basic rate can apply for the provincial rate reduction, which is based on income rather than assets.

The rates published in this directory are a different thing: they reflect what London providers and residences quote publicly. Across the 7 London long-term-care listings with published pricing, starting rates run from $2,358 to $3,351 a month (median $2,916), and the highest published upper rate is $6,435. McCormick Care Foundation, for example, shows a published range of $3,493 to $6,211 a month across its care levels.

For income planning, the 2026 federal figures help: the average new CPP retirement pension at 65 is $925.35 a month (maximum $1,507.65), Old Age Security is $751.97 at 65–74 and $827.17 at 75+ for July–September 2026, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement pays up to $1,123.17 a month for a single low-income senior. Attendant-care costs in a retirement home may also qualify for the medical expense tax credit or disability tax credit. Compare local numbers on the cost of senior living in London page.

What can you do while you wait for a bed?

Most families bridge the wait with a combination of home care, respite stays, a day program, or a private retirement suite.

• Home care. Ontario Health atHome arranges publicly funded hours; private agencies fill the gaps. London has 9 home care providers in the directory.
• Respite care. Short stays give a caregiver a break and let you test a building. There are 5 respite care options in London.
• Adult day programs. Supervised days out with activities and a meal; London has 1 adult day program listed.
• Retirement residence with care. A private suite with meals and personal support can hold the line until a long-term care bed opens. Four London communities are listed for memory care if cognitive change is the driver.

Ask your care coordinator how a temporary move affects your application — in some cases a crisis or hospital designation changes priority, and you want that confirmed in writing rather than assumed. You can also search the full list of long-term care homes in London and shortlist by location before your next call.

London long-term care homes compared

Six London residences from the directory, with published starting rates and Google ratings where they exist. Ratings with only a handful of reviews say little on their own — treat them as a prompt to visit, not a verdict.

Community	Care offered	Monthly from	Google rating
McCormick Care Foundation	Long-term care, memory care, assisted living, retirement	$3,493	4.8 (26 reviews)
Extendicare Inc	Long-term care, home care	$2,941	1.0 (2 reviews)
Dearness Home for Senior Citizens	Long-term care	—	—
Earls Court Village	Long-term care	—	—
Chelsey Park	Long-term care	—	—
AgeCare London	Long-term care	—	—

What should you ask on a tour?

Ask about staffing, the co-payment, and what happens when needs change — in that order.

1. How many personal support workers and nurses are on each shift, including nights and weekends?
2. Which accommodation types (basic, semi-private, private) are available, and what is the current wait for each?
3. How do I apply for the provincial rate reduction, and who at the home helps with the paperwork?
4. What is charged on top of the co-payment — cable, hairdressing, foot care, transportation, extra laundry?
5. How does the home handle responsive behaviours, falls and end-of-life care, and is palliative care supported on site?
6. What do families say at the residents' council meeting — can I attend one before deciding?

Visit twice if you can: once mid-morning and once at supper, when staffing pressure is easiest to see. Compare notes against other senior living options in Ontario if you are open to homes outside the city.

How we compiled this

Figures come from the SeniorHome.ca directory as of 24 September 2026, using publicly published rates and Google ratings and review counts collected for each community. Ontario long-term care co-payments are set by the province and are not the same as the private rates shown here; rates, availability and waitlists change often. Confirm pricing and eligibility directly with each home and with Ontario Health atHome before making a decision.

Frequently asked questions

How many long-term care homes are there in London, Ontario?

The SeniorHome.ca directory lists 25 London providers under nursing homes and long-term care, out of 61 senior living communities in the city overall. That count includes residences such as Dearness Home for Senior Citizens, Earls Court Village, Chelsey Park, AgeCare London and McCormick Care Foundation, plus agencies that support people receiving nursing-home level care. London also has 8 assisted living, 7 retirement residence and 4 memory care listings.

How do I apply for a long-term care bed in London?

You apply through Ontario Health atHome, which arranges long-term care placement and publicly funded home care across the province; its London office is on Oxford Street West. A care coordinator assesses eligibility, helps you choose preferred homes, and manages the waitlist. You cannot apply directly to a home for a publicly funded bed, and the home itself cannot change your position on the list.

What does long-term care cost in London, Ontario?

In a publicly funded long-term care home you pay a provincially set accommodation co-payment for basic, semi-private or private accommodation, and a rate reduction is available for low-income residents. Private rates published in the SeniorHome.ca directory for London long-term-care listings start between $2,358 and $3,351 a month, with a median of $2,916 and a highest published upper rate of $6,435. Only 7 of the 25 listings publish rates, so ask each home for a written quote.

What are the options while waiting for a long-term care bed?

Most London families combine publicly funded and private home care (9 providers listed), respite stays (5 options), an adult day program (1 listed), or a private retirement residence suite (7 listed) until a bed opens. Retirement homes are licensed separately by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority and are paid privately. Ask your Ontario Health atHome coordinator in writing how a temporary move affects your application.

What is the difference between a long-term care home and a retirement home in Ontario?

Long-term care homes provide 24-hour nursing care, are funded by the province, and are accessed only through Ontario Health atHome placement with a set co-payment. Retirement homes are private businesses licensed by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority, which keeps a public register; you apply directly and pay the full monthly rate. In London, 25 listings offer nursing-home level care and 7 are retirement residences.