Senior Homes in Burlington, ON

Senior homes in Burlington: a local guide

This page lists 50 senior homes and senior care providers in Burlington, Ontario, from independent living apartments near the lake to secure memory care and long-term care. The median starting price across Burlington communities is $3,113 a month, with estimated starting rates running from about $2,456 for basic independent living to roughly $4,457 for memory care. Most are privately paid retirement homes; publicly funded long-term care is applied for separately through the province.

Where senior homes are in Burlington

Forty-six of the 50 listings have a Burlington address, and they fall into four clusters:

• Plains Road corridor, west Burlington — the densest pocket of retirement homes in the city, near the waterfront at LaSalle Park and the golf-course neighbourhood of Tyandaga. It includes Burlington Gardens (300 Plains Rd W, from $3,113), LaSalle Park Retirement Community (18 Plains Rd W, from $3,231) and Hampton Terrace Care Centre (75 Plains Rd W), a nursing home.
• Downtown and the New Street corridor — walkable blocks near the lake, shops and the hospital. Options near Downtown Burlington include Pearl and Pine Retirement Residence (390 Pearl St, from $2,505), Venvi Christopher Terrace (3131 New St, from $3,057), Wellington Park Care Centre (802 Hager Ave) and Carey House (1401 Ontario St), a palliative care residence.
• East Burlington — Appleby, Orchard and Palmer — larger sites on arterial roads: Sunrise of Burlington (5401 Lakeshore Rd, from $3,758), The Williamsburg (1893 Appleby Line, from $2,879) and Extendicare Burloak (5959 New St). Browse by area for Appleby, Orchard and Palmer.
• North Burlington above Upper Middle Road — quieter and car-dependent, including The Village of Tansley Woods (4100 Upper Middle Rd, from $4,457) and Heritage Place (4151 Kilmer Dr, from $2,456). Families in the newer subdivisions usually start with Alton Village.

What senior homes cost in Burlington

Prices below are SeniorHome.ca's median estimated starting rate per month for each care type in Burlington. Starting rates normally cover a studio or one-bedroom suite, meals and basic services; personal care and medication help are extra.

• Independent living — 16 communities, median start $2,879
• Assisted living and retirement residences — 10 and 11 communities, median start $3,231
• Memory care — 12 communities, median start $4,457
• Nursing homes and long-term care — 19 listings, median start $3,202 (publicly funded beds are charged at provincial co-payment rates instead)
• Respite care — 14 providers, median start $3,231; palliative care — 7 providers; home care — 6 providers; one adult day program

For a fuller breakdown by suite type and care level, see the cost of senior living in Burlington.

Public long-term care and home care in Burlington

Long-term care placement and publicly funded home care in Ontario are arranged through Ontario Health atHome, the single organization that coordinates home and community care, long-term care placement and referrals to community services. A care coordinator assesses the applicant; placement services decide eligibility for admission and manage the waitlist and admission process for long-term care homes in the region. Applicants must be 18 or older, hold a valid OHIP card, and have care needs that cannot safely be met at home.

In long-term care the province sets the accommodation co-payment, and a rate reduction is available for residents with low income. Retirement homes work differently: they are licensed by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA), which keeps a public register you can check before signing, and you move in by private agreement — no provincial waitlist.

Hospitals and getting around

Burlington's community hospital is Joseph Brant Hospital at 1245 Lakeshore Rd, a 245-bed hospital affiliated with McMaster University. Its emergency department is open 24 hours and needs no referral, and the hospital runs outpatient programs including the Wellness House adult day program. Downtown and Plains Road communities sit closest to it.

Burlington Transit has been free for riders 65 and older, all day, every day, since August 1, 2023. For residents who cannot use regular buses because of a disability, Burlington Transit's specialized Handi-Van service carries approved riders, with connections to Hamilton DARTS at Joseph Brant Hospital and Oakville's Care-A-Van. The city-run Burlington Seniors' Centre at 2285 New St offers registered and drop-in programs for adults 55 and older, which is useful for a parent moving into independent living nearby.

How to choose a senior home in Burlington

• Match the care level, not just the building. If dementia is involved, shortlist from the 12 memory care homes and ask whether the floor is secured.
• Ask what happens when needs increase. Campuses such as The Village of Tansley Woods list independent living through to nursing home care on one site; smaller residences may require a move.
• Apply for long-term care early through Ontario Health atHome, list more than one home, and use a retirement home or respite stay as a bridge.
• Check the RHRA register for the home's licence, and read the care agreement for what triggers extra charges.
• Keep the geography practical — distance to Joseph Brant Hospital, to whoever visits most, and to a bus route the resident can ride free.
• Get costs in writing — rent, care package, supplies and notice period — and visit twice, including an evening, when staffing is thinnest.

Not sure which level of care fits? Start with a free care assessment, or compare every listed community on this page side by side.

Sources

• Burlington Transit – Free for Seniors all the time; Youth evenings and weekends — City of Burlington
• Burlington Transit fares FAQ — Get Involved Burlington
• Burlington Transit – Specialized Transit (Handi-Van)
• Joseph Brant Hospital, Emergency Department — Halton Community Services Database
• Joseph Brant Hospital — Wikipedia
• Joseph Brant Hospital (official site)
• Adult and Adult 55+ Programs (Burlington Seniors' Centre, 2285 New St) — City of Burlington
• Ontario Health atHome