Guide for families · checked at source on 9 October 2026

Retirement home or long-term care? The differences, in plain words.

They sound alike, but in Ontario they work very differently: who they’re for, how you apply, and who pays for what. Here is the difference side by side, what each costs in 2026, and how to choose a home.

See them side by side

General information for Ontario, not advice. Every fact links to the government page it comes from.

Side by side

Question	Retirement home	Long-term care home
Who it’s for	Seniors who are usually more independent and need less medical care. There are no eligibility criteria.	People who need nursing care on site 24 hours a day, or frequent help through the day with daily living.
Who runs it	Typically privately owned. The home rents housing and offers services like meals and help with dressing.	Publicly funded homes run by municipalities, not-for-profit organizations and private organizations.
How to apply	Directly to the home you choose. You sign a tenancy agreement.	Through Ontario Health atHome, 1-833-515-1234. You can choose up to five homes.
Who pays	The resident pays the full cost of accommodation, plus any care services they choose to buy.	The province pays for nursing and personal care. The resident pays a co-payment for accommodation and meals, capped by the province.
Rules and protections	Licensed, inspected and handled for complaints by the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority. Residents are also tenants under the Residential Tenancies Act.	Licensed and regulated by Ontario’s Ministry of Long-Term Care.

Retirement home residents keep full access to Ontario’s publicly funded health care, and can arrange publicly funded care at home through Ontario Health atHome, or pay a private provider.

What it costs

Long-term care: the province sets the maximum

The maximum co-payment fees, effective July 1, 2026, are the same at every home in Ontario, for-profit or not-for-profit:

Room	A day	A month
Basic	$70.00	$2,129.17
Semi-private	$84.40	$2,567.17
Private	$100.01	$3,041.97

Every resident gets the same level of care whatever the room. Homes may charge extra for optional services such as hairdressing, cable TV, telephone, internet and transportation. Payment starts on the move-in date. A resident in a basic room who can’t afford the fee can apply to the Long-Term Care Rate Reduction Program once they’ve moved in, and must re-apply every year. Semi-private and private rooms don’t qualify. See paying for long-term care.

Retirement homes: each home sets its prices

Retirement homes set their own rent and care prices. Every home should have an itemized list of its types of accommodation and care services, with prices, and give it to anyone who asks, in print or electronically. Ask for it before you visit, and compare what is included with what costs extra.

How to choose a retirement home

Find homes where you want to live. The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority’s retirement home database lists every licensed home.
Check the record. In the same database, confirm the home is licensed and read its recent inspection reports.
Ask the questions that matter. Does the home offer the level of care you want? What is included with the accommodation, and what costs extra, and how much? When can you move in, and is there a wait list? Can you talk to people who live there now?
Visit, more than once if you can, at a mealtime, and bring the price list with you.

How long-term care placement works

Call Ontario Health atHome at 1-833-515-1234, or ask the hospital’s care coordinator if your family member is in hospital.
An assessment. A care coordinator assesses health and needs, and talks through every option, including more help at home.
Choose up to five homes, in order of preference. People assessed as needing an immediate admission because of a crisis are not limited to five.
Wait, with support. Wait times vary. While waiting, the Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program can help a person stay well at home.
The offer. When a place comes up, there are 24 hours to accept and up to five days to move in. Turning down an offer, or not moving in by the deadline, removes the person from every waiting list, and they must wait 12 weeks to reapply unless their condition or circumstances change significantly.

If your first choice isn’t offered: you can accept, move in and stay on the list for a transfer to your first choice, though that may take a long time.

Common questions

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

A retirement home is typically privately owned, has no eligibility criteria and charges the full cost of accommodation; you apply directly. A long-term care home is publicly funded, is for people who need nursing care on site 24 hours a day or frequent help with daily living, and you apply through Ontario Health atHome.

How much does long-term care cost in Ontario in 2026?

The maximum co-payment fees effective July 1, 2026 are $70.00 a day ($2,129.17 a month) for a basic room, $84.40 a day ($2,567.17) for semi-private and $100.01 a day ($3,041.97) for private. The province pays for nursing and personal care.

Can I get help paying for long-term care?

If you live in a basic room and can’t afford the fee, you can apply to the Long-Term Care Rate Reduction Program after moving in. You must re-apply every year. Semi-private and private rooms don’t qualify.

Does the government pay for retirement homes?

No. Residents pay the full cost of accommodation and any care services they buy. They keep full access to publicly funded health care, including home care arranged through Ontario Health atHome if they qualify.

How do I check a retirement home before moving in?

Use the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority’s retirement home database to confirm the home is licensed and read its inspection reports, and ask the home for its itemized price list.

How many long-term care homes can you apply to?

Up to five, in order of preference. People assessed as needing an immediate admission because of a crisis are not limited to five.