Retirement Homes & Senior Homes in Toronto, ON

Senior homes in Toronto: a local guide

This page lists 86 senior homes in Toronto, from small midtown retirement residences to large long-term care homes in North York and Scarborough. Across homes with a SeniorHome.ca price estimate, the median is $3,884 a month. Most Toronto families are really comparing two systems at once: privately paid retirement homes you can tour and book yourself, and publicly funded long-term care, which is placed through Ontario Health atHome.

Where senior homes are in Toronto

By street address, the listings here break down as North York (4), the old City of Toronto core (3), Scarborough (3) and Etobicoke (1), with the rest listed by neighbourhood. Downtown and midtown hold most of the private retirement buildings: Chartwell Avondale Retirement Residence at 1238 Queen St E, The Sumach by Chartwell at 146 Sumach St, Amica Balmoral at 155 Balmoral Ave, Christie Gardens Apartments & Care, and the City of Toronto's Fudger House at 439 Sherbourne St. North of Eglinton you get larger campuses such as Baycrest at 3560 Bathurst St; in the east, Extendicare Guildwood sits at 60 Guildwood Pkwy in Scarborough.

• Downtown and midtown: Yorkville, Rosedale, Forest Hill, Deer Park and Summerhill — see senior homes near Cabbagetown.
• East end: Riverdale, Leslieville, Greektown and The Beaches — start with senior homes near Riverdale.
• North York: Willowdale, Bayview Village, York Mills and Don Mills — see senior homes near Willowdale.
• Scarborough and Etobicoke: Agincourt, Rexdale and Mimico — see senior homes near Agincourt.

In a city this size, choose by travel time for whoever will visit most often rather than by postal code — a subway ride along Yonge Street often beats a shorter cross-town drive.

What senior homes cost in Toronto

These are median starting rates estimated by SeniorHome.ca for the homes on this page — the entry point for a standard suite with basic services, before extra care, a larger room or a second occupant.

• Independent living (21 homes) and assisted living (21 homes): from about $3,652/month.
• Retirement residences (23) and memory care (22): from about $3,884/month.
• Nursing homes and long-term care (63 listings): median estimated start $3,652/month.
• Short-stay respite care (25 homes): from about $4,194/month, the priciest category because stays are short.
• Home care (18 providers) and adult day programs (16) are usually billed hourly or per day rather than monthly.

Quotes vary widely: Chartwell Avondale starts at $3,000 and Christie Gardens at $3,110, while Forest Hill Place starts at $4,500, Delmanor Wynford at $4,503 and Amica Balmoral at $4,968. For a fuller breakdown see the cost of senior living in Toronto and our 2026 Toronto price guide by care type.

Public long-term care and home care in Toronto

Long-term care is not booked directly with the home. In Ontario you apply through Ontario Health atHome, which assesses eligibility and coordinates admission; a care coordinator completes most of the application, usually at an in-person meeting, and you fill in a choice form naming up to five homes. The same organization arranges publicly funded home care — personal support, nursing and therapy — which is what many families use while they wait.

Long-term care accommodation co-payments are set province-wide (basic, semi-private and private), and a rate reduction is available if you cannot afford the basic rate. The City of Toronto itself operates 10 long-term care homes, including Fudger House downtown; they are applied for the same way as any other home in Ontario. Retirement homes are different: they are privately paid and licensed by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), whose public register lets you check a home's licence and inspection history before you sign.

Hospitals and getting around

Ask every home which hospital its residents are usually sent to and whether staff accompany them to emergency. Toronto hospital networks also publish seniors' resources: Unity Health Toronto, for instance, circulates a transportation list covering Wheel-Trans and the agencies that drive seniors to appointments.

• TTC: riders 65 and over qualify for the TTC senior fare discount and must show proof of age.
• Wheel-Trans: eligibility is based on disability, not age, and riders pay a regular TTC fare.
• Community rides: not-for-profit community support agencies offer assisted door-to-door transportation for people 55 and over who are not eligible for Wheel-Trans.
• Toronto Seniors Helpline (416-217-2077): support and crisis help for seniors 65+ and their caregivers; 211 connects you to other community services.

How to choose a senior home in Toronto

• Confirm the licence. Look the retirement home up on the RHRA public register; for long-term care, confirm the home is on your Ontario Health atHome choice form.
• Price the second year, not the first. Ask what each added care level costs per month and how much rates rose last year.
• Visit twice — at a meal and mid-evening — and count staff on the floor each time.
• Match the care path. Homes such as Christie Gardens and Chartwell Avondale list independent living through palliative care on one site, which avoids a second move.
• Test the commute at the hour family would actually travel, by TTC and by car.
• Ask dementia specifics: secure outdoor space and whether behavioural support is in-house.
• Try respite first. A short stay is the cheapest way to test a home.
• Not sure which care type fits? Start with a free care assessment.

Sources

• Apply for long-term care | ontario.ca
• Long-Term Care in Ontario (fact sheet) | Ontario Health atHome
• Long-Term Care Homes | City of Toronto
• Long-term care homes list and accommodation rates | Ontario Health atHome
• Retirement Home Public Register | Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority
• Wheel-Trans: Day of your trip (fares) | TTC
• TTC Senior Fare Discount notice | City of Toronto
• Transportation Services for Seniors | Unity Health Toronto