When Maria and her brother Mark got the call that their dad had fallen and been admitted to hospital, they assumed he would recover and return home with some extra help. But after a few days, it became clear that it was unlikely he'd be able to live safely on his own. A patient care coordinator at the hospital explained that while long-term care is an option, the wait could be months or even years. They needed to find a retirement home quickly, one that could provide the right level of support and had space available now. And like most Ontarians who find themselves in this situation, they had no idea where to start.
The Reality of Long-Term Care in Ontario
Our province is on the verge of a retirement living crisis. In Ontario today, the need for long-term-care beds far exceeds the number available. Nearly 50,000 people are waiting for placement in a long-term-care home, and the wait can stretch months or even years depending on where you live, the type of room requested, and your level of need.
Long-term care facilities are publicly funded — but for most people, they’re not an accessible option. Long-term care is meant for people who require 24-hour nursing and personal support. Because the system is triaged, meaning those with the highest needs are prioritized, people who are still managing at home or in hospital may wait a long time before they are offered a bed. In some regions, families are being told to expect waits of many years for their preferred home.
That’s the difficult reality facing Ontario families. And it’s part of why many are exploring retirement living as a proactive, flexible option that offers community, care, and support.
At Elderado, we know how confusing it can be to find the right place for an older adult to live. Between long-term care wait-lists, navigating retirement homes, and evolving care needs, families are often left wondering where to even start. That’s why we created the Retirement Living Availability Registry (RLAR): a simple, free tool that helps you find retirement homes with current availability.
The RLAR brings real-time transparency to a process that can otherwise feel overwhelming. Instead of calling around to dozens of homes, families, caregivers, and professionals can quickly find homes that have space available right now in Independent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, or Respite stays.
How the Retirement Living Availability Registry Helps Families
When an aging loved one needs more support, most families struggle to navigate the retirement living ecosystem. They may begin by calling a few retirement homes, only to learn that many have waitlists or no availability. Each call takes time. Each “no” adds stress. And when decisions need to be made quickly — whether it’s after a fall, a hospital stay, or a sudden change in health — that process can feel impossible.
The Retirement Living Availability Registry was built to solve that problem. It acts as a bridge to connect families looking for homes with immediate availability, and retirement homes with suites available. No guessing. No endless calling. Just clear information that helps you find the care you’re looking for.
Here’s how it helps:
- It saves time and reduces stress. Instead of calling dozens of homes, families can find retirement homes in the area where they are looking that have availability today.
- It helps families plan ahead. Even if you’re not ready to move right away, checking the RLAR gives you a realistic picture of what’s available in your area. The RLAR is updated directly by participating homes at least once a month, so the information you see is reliable and recent.
- It connects you directly with homes. Once you find a home that shows availability, you can reach out directly — no middleman, no referral fees, no hidden costs. You speak with the home’s staff, ask questions, and book a tour when you’re ready.
- It helps families explore alternatives while waiting for long-term care. With almost 50,000 people waiting for long-term-care placement in Ontario, families often need an interim solution. The RLAR helps you find retirement homes that can provide safety, support, and community while waiting for a long-term-care bed — or can act as a longer-term choice in its own right.
- It provides transparency, access, and efficiency. For years, families and even hospital staff have had to rely on outdated lists, phone calls, or word-of-mouth to find openings in retirement homes. That made it difficult for people to make timely, informed decisions —- especially in moments of crisis. The RLAR fixes this problem by creating a more connected ecosystem, where retirement homes, hospitals, and families are working from the same, up-to-date information.
- It gives peace of mind. Above all, the RLAR offers something simple but powerful: peace of mind. Knowing what’s available, and where, helps families feel more in control during what can otherwise be a stressful and emotional time.
At Elderado, our goal is to make this process easier, and to help families feel more confident in the elder care decisions they make. The Retirement Living Availability Registry is one small but important way we’re making that happen.
Why Retirement Living Deserves a Closer Look
Retirement homes in Ontario are private-pay, but they often fill an important gap that long-term care can’t address on its own. Maybe somebody prefers the lifestyle of living in a retirement home. Maybe they are looking for a particular kind of extra care or support. Or maybe they need an interim place to live while waiting for long-term care.
For many families, retirement living offers flexibility, allowing a loved one to live independently while still accessing support such as medication management, personal care, or even memory support programs.
At Elderado, we often see families use retirement living as an important bridge: a way to ensure safety, connection, and comfort while waiting for a long-term-care placement, or simply as a long-term choice in its own right.
Planning Ahead Makes a Difference
We understand that no one wants to plan for a crisis. But waiting until the last minute, especially in Ontario’s current system, can make an already stressful situation even harder.
Here are a few ways you can plan ahead and make use of available resources:
- Explore your options early. Use the Retirement Living Availability Registry to see which homes in your area currently have space.
- Learn about long-term-care placement. If you think long-term care may eventually be needed, contact your local Ontario Health atHome office. They handle assessments, wait-lists, and admissions. You can reach Ontario Health atHome at 310-2222 (no area code).
- Compare your options. On Elderado.ca you can find video tours, inspection reports, sample menus, activity calendars, and more.
- Ask questions and go on a tour. Every home is different. Some offer full-service Assisted Living, while others focus on Independent Living with optional support. You can find contact information for every home on their Company Page on Elderado.
- Keep your paperwork ready. If you’re helping an older family member, make sure key documents like Powers of Attorney, medical information, and advanced care directives are current and accessible.
Start Your Search with Confidence
At Elderado, our goal is to make it easier to find the right information, at the right time. Whether you’re planning ahead for yourself, helping a parent, or supporting a friend through a transition, the Retirement Living Availability Registry gives you a clear starting point.
To explore homes with current suite availability, visit the Retirement Living Availability Registry on Elderado.ca.
Spend less time searching for information, and more time with your loved ones.
