Home adaptations

Most of us want to continue living in our own home for as long as possible, but housing needs can change over the course of a lifetime. Sometimes even small and inexpensive modifications can help make your home safer and allow you to remain independent as you get older. If you’re thinking of modifying your home, these Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation online publications may be able to help:

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation

Financial assistance programs

If you are thinking of modifying your home to make it more accessible, there are a number of government programs that may be able to help you.

Ontario Renovates

Ontario Renovates is part of the Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI), a community housing program that provides forgivable loans to:

  • low- to moderate-income homeowners
  • landlords of affordable rental buildings

They can make necessary repairs to bring units up to acceptable standards and improve accessibility. The OPHI program is administered by local municipalities and District Social Services Administration Boards, designated as Service Managers. Those interested in Ontario Renovates are encouraged to contact their local Service Manager directly to find out if it is available in a specific community, as well as local eligibility criteria and program details.

Find a list of Ontario’s Service Managers and the communities they serve.

Senior and/or disabled property tax relief

Property owners who build or modify a residence for a senior or a person with a disability may be eligible for property tax relief. Examples of alterations and additions include building a ramp or an additional room. If you believe your home is eligible, contact your local office of the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. Exemptions for Seniors and People with Disabilities.

Municipal Property Assessment Corporation

Property tax relief for low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities

Low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities who own residential property may be eligible to receive relief from property tax increases that result from assessment reform. For more information or to determine your eligibility, please contact your local municipality.

Provincial Land Tax Deferral Program for Low-Income Seniors and Low-Income Persons with Disabilities

Under this program, low-income seniors and low-income persons with disabilities may apply for an annual deferral of part of the Provincial Land Tax and Education Tax increases. All deferred taxes must be repaid in full upon the sale or transfer of title to the property. This program is for those who pay their property taxes directly to the Province of Ontario. Learn more.

Ministry of Finance

If you would like to learn more about the Home and Vehicle Modification Program, please see the finance section of this guide.

Housing options

If you need help to decide what housing option might be best for you or for your family member, one of these professionals can help:

Adult lifestyle communities

Adult Lifestyle Communities provide independent living residences for retirees or semi-retirees. Residences may include bungalows, townhomes, small homes or condominiums that provide the benefits of home ownership with on-site recreational and community activities. Contact your local real estate agent to find an Adult Lifestyle Community near you.

Life lease housing

With life lease housing, you hold an “interest” in a property, but do not own it. This type of arrangement can have many advantages. For example, units are often less expensive than similarly sized condominiums in the area. In addition, life lease communities are restricted to people of a certain age, so residents are more likely to share common interests and needs.

Retirement homes

Retirement homes are private businesses that sell various combinations of accommodations (from shared rooms to large apartments), support services and personal care. Anyone can apply to live in a retirement home.

You are responsible for the entire cost of both your accommodation and care services. Accommodation rates are subject to rent control. Residences and rates can vary widely in terms of care, services and amenities provided. While you do not need to provide medical evidence that you need care, the home will assess your needs to make sure you do not need more support than it can provide.

Retirement homes are regulated under the Retirement Homes Act, 2010. This legislation:

  • mandates care and safety standards for retirement homes, including emergency plans, infection control and prevention programs, assessment of care needs and care planning, police background checks and training for staff
  • created a Residents’ Bill of Rights that includes the right to know the true cost of care and accommodation and the right to live in an environment that promotes zero tolerance of abuse or neglect
  • established the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority, an arm’s-length organization that educates, licenses and inspects retirement homes to ensure they meet prescribed standards.

Ontario’s Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority licenses and inspects the province’s retirement homes, maintains a Public Register of all homes that have been granted or have applied for a licence, handles complaints and educates retirement home staff and owners, consumers and the public about the Act.

Anyone in Ontario can call the Authority, free of charge, to get help resolving retirement home complaints.

If you see or suspect harm or risk of harm to a resident resulting from poor care, abuse or neglect or unlawful conduct, or if you suspect misuse of a resident’s money, you must report this to the Registrar of the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority. You may report anonymously.

For information about retirement homes in your community, contact the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority.

Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority

Supportive housing

Supportive housing programs are coordinated through Home and Community Care Support Services. These programs provide on-site personal support services for seniors living as tenants in designated residential buildings. These programs are designed to help people live independently in their own apartments. Services include personal support/attendant services, essential homemaking services and staff available 24 hours a day to handle regularly scheduled care and emergency needs. Learn more.

To contact your Home and Community Care Support Services organization:

Housing options for low-income seniors

Learn about programs to help you have a safe and affordable place to call home.

Rent-geared-to-income housing

Social housing is developed with government assistance for low-to moderate-income Ontarians. The length of time before a unit becomes available will vary depending on your location. This program is administered by local municipalities and District Social Services Administration Boards, designated as Service Managers. Those interested in this program are encouraged to contact their local Service Manager. Find a list of Ontario’s Service Managers and the communities they serve.

Rent supplements and housing allowances

Rent supplements and housing allowances are forms of rental assistance that can help people pay their rent. A rent supplement is a subsidy paid to the landlord on behalf of a household in need of rental assistance. A housing allowance is a subsidy paid directly to a household in need of rental assistance.

The Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) has a rental assistance component that provides rent supplements and/or housing allowances. The OPHI program is administered by local municipalities and District Social Services Administration Boards, designated as Service Managers.

Those interested in the rental assistance component are encouraged to contact their local Service Manager directly to find out if it is available in a specific community, as well as local eligibility criteria and program details.

Find a list of Ontario’s Service Managers and the communities they serve.

Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit

This program provides a direct, monthly benefit payment to eligible households to help pay their rent. The benefit payments are:

  • portable, which means you may receive the benefits even when you move to another address
  • based on the household income and local market rent.

Eligible households include:

  • survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking
  • people experiencing or at risk of homelessness
  • Indigenous people
  • seniors
  • people with disabilities

To apply, eligible households must be either:

  • on, or eligible to be on, the social housing waiting list of a Service Manager
  • living in community housing

Contact your local service manager for details on eligibility requirements and how to apply.

Households who are approved to receive benefits under this program must consent to be removed from the social housing waiting list of their local service manager.

Co-operative housing

Co-operative housing residents do not own equity in their homes, but they have an equal say in how their community is run. A co-operative is non-profit. When you leave a housing co-operative, your home is returned to the co-operative to be offered to someone else in need of affordable housing.

Ontario Regional Office of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada

Emergency rental assistance

Homelessness Prevention Program

This program is designed to help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness find the right housing services and other supports, whether that is emergency financial and shelter assistance or long-term housing assistance and rent supplements.

Services are delivered by local municipalities and District Social Services Administration Boards, also known as Service Managers.

Find a list of Ontario’s Service Managers and the communities they serve.

Rent increase guidelines

Each year, Ontario sets a new guideline for rent increases.

The guideline is the maximum a landlord can increase most tenants’ rent during a year without the approval of the Landlord and Tenant Board.

The guideline applies to most private residential rental units covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, 2006. This applies to most tenants, such as those living in:

The guideline does not apply to certain types of units including:

  • vacant residential units
  • community housing units
  • long-term care homes
  • commercial properties

Learn about the rules for rent, including rent increase guidelines and resolving issues about rent control.

Landlord and tenant relations

Residential Tenancies Act, 2006

This legislation governs most landlord and tenant relationships across Ontario, sets out the rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants who rent residential properties, and regulates most rent increases. The Act does not cover commercial tenancies.

Landlord and Tenant Board

The Landlord and Tenant Board resolves disputes between landlords and tenants and educates people about their rights and responsibilities. Both landlords and tenants can file an application, after which a hearing is scheduled. At the hearing, a member of the board will make a decision or if both sides agree, a mediator will try to help both parties reach an agreement.

Navigate Tribunals Ontario, is a convenient online tool that provides users with information about their legal rights and responsibilities, rules and processes. This online tool can help tenants and landlords find out what steps they can take to manage a dispute.

For Indigenous seniors

Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program On-Reserve

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation offers financial assistance to First Nations and First Nation members to repair substandard homes to a minimum level of health and safety through the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program. First Nations or individual First Nation members that require major repairs to their homes may be eligible to apply. The total household income must be at or below the established income threshold for their area. Learn more.

Assisted Living Program

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada’s Assisted Living Program is a residency-based program that provides funding for non-medical, social support services for seniors, adults with chronic illness, and children and adults with disabilities. The program helps individuals on reserve remain independent for as long as possible, while maximizing their quality of life at home and in the community.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada

Long-term care homes

If you are looking for information about retirement homes, please see the housing options section of this guide.

Long-term care homes are homes for adults who need help with daily activities, supervision in a secure setting and/or access to 24-hour nursing care. They are licensed or approved and funded by the Ministry of Long-Term Care and must meet provincial standards when it comes to care, services and resident fees.

Ministry of Long-Term Care

Ontario Long-Term Care Association

AdvantAge Ontario

How to apply

If you are considering a long-term care home, you must contact your local Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS). HCCSS determines eligibility for placement into long-term care homes and manages wait lists. HCCSS will assign you a care coordinator who can provide you with information about homes in your area and assist you in completing your application for placement into a long-term care home.

Home and Community Care Support Services

Choosing a long-term care home

Your Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS) care coordinator can help you learn more about your options. Here are a few things to consider when selecting a long-term care home:

  • What services are available?
  • Is the home conveniently located and is public transportation available?
  • Are visiting hours flexible?
  • Is the home able to meet your religious, spiritual, cultural, language and dietary needs?
  • Can you bring your own furniture or food?

It is very important that you and your family visit each of the homes you are considering, ask the right questions when you visit and read the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s report about each home.

You can use this checklist to help you ask the right questions.

Short-stay accommodation

Seniors who are recovering from illness or injury sometimes require short-stay services offered by long-term care homes without needing to be admitted permanently. Short-stay residents are those who need temporary accommodations for a maximum of 90 days in one year. Some long-term care homes in Ontario currently offer “assess and restore” services through the Convalescent Care Program. Some people also opt for a short stay to give respite to their caregivers. Your HCCSS care coordinator can provide information on long-term care homes that offer short-stay accommodations and determine your eligibility for a short-stay program.

Accommodation rates

While all nursing and personal care services are paid by the provincial government, residents of long-term care homes must pay for their meal and accommodation costs (which are standard across Ontario.) This amount is called a co-payment. The amount of your co-payment depends on the length of your stay and the type of room you choose (private, semi-private and basic).

Long-stay residents need permanent accommodations for an indefinite period of time. Short-stay residents need temporary accommodations for a maximum of 90 days in one year. The maximum accommodation rates that long-term care homes may charge are set by the Ministry of Long-Term Care each year.

If you cannot afford to pay the monthly co-payment for basic accommodations, you may be eligible for a rate reduction. You can learn more about rate reductions and also speak with your HCCSS care coordinator for more information.

Services

Long-term care homes are meant to feel like home – a place where every resident feels safe and comfortable. Homes have dining rooms and common areas, and may also have other amenities like shops, salons, worship facilities or gardens. All long-term care homes offer 24-hour supervision and nursing care.

The basic accommodation package includes the following:

  • furnishings, meals, bed linens and laundry, personal hygiene supplies, medical/clinical supplies and devices, housekeeping, social and recreational programs, medication administration and assistance with daily activities
  • 24-hour nursing and personal care and access to a physician/other health care professionals
  • an individualized plan of care that outlines your care requirements and which is reviewed/updated at least every six months.

For a fee, you could also add other optional services, such as cable TV, private telephone, hairdressing services, transportation etc. Remember that you cannot be charged for any of these services unless you first agree in writing.

Residents’ rights

Residents of long-term care homes deserve to live in a respectful and compassionate environment, free from abuse and neglect. Long-term care home residents have rights as a resident of a long-term care home that are written in the Residents’ Bill of Rights. Homes are required to post a large-print version of the Residents’ Bill of Rights in both English and French in locations that are easily accessible. When you are admitted, you or your substitute decision-maker should receive a copy of the Residents’ Bill of Rights and be told how to raise concerns, lodge complaints or recommend changes to the home without fear of recrimination. Residents can also contact the Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils for assistance.

Inspections

All long-term care home licensees in Ontario must comply with legislation that sets clear and detailed standards for residents’ care, quality of life and rights and the operation of long-term care homes. All homes receive an inspection at least once per year. The Ministry of Long-Term Care performs unannounced inspections and applies enforcement measures if a long-term care home is found to have not complied with requirements under the legislation.

Complaints

Anyone who is concerned about a long-term care home resident’s care or the operation of the long-term care home can report it or make a complaint. This includes a resident, a family member, someone employed by the home, anyone providing services to the resident or any member of the public. Each home is required to post its procedure for managing complaints. Individuals are encouraged to work with the home to resolve concerns directly.

If you have an urgent complaint, call the Ministry of Long Term Care’s Family Support and Action Line.

Family Support and Action Line
Open from 8:30 a.m. – 7:00 p.m, 7 days a week

To make a non-urgent complaint, report your concern directly to the home. Each home is required to post its procedure for managing complaints.

You can also report non-urgent complaints to the Family Support and Action Line, or you can write to the Ministry of Long-Term Care:

Director, Long-Term Care Inspections Branch
Long-Term Care Homes Division
Ministry of Long-Term Care
11th Floor, 119 King St. W
Hamilton, Ontario
L8P 4Y7

Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils

Every long-term care home must have a residents’ council and every resident has the right to participate on a residents’ council. The councils are made up of residents who speak on behalf of all residents to support their interests. They may provide advice to residents, including information about their rights; help resolve disputes; plan activities and provide advice and recommendations about how care or the quality of life in the home can be improved. This provincial association supports the formation and sustainability of residents’ councils across Ontario and assists and advises individual councils.

Ontario Association of Residents’ Councils

Family Councils Ontario

Many long-term care homes have an active family council that consists of family and friends of residents who meet to provide each other with support, share information and advocate on behalf of residents. Family Councils Ontario works to improve the quality of life and care for long-term care home residents by working collaboratively with family members, family councils and long-term care homes to support the establishment of family councils and improve long-term care.

Family Councils Ontario