24-hour nursing for complex needs
Long-Term Care
Long-term care homes provide 24-hour skilled nursing and complex care for seniors with significant medical needs. Access is often coordinated through your provincial health authority.
712 listings across Canada · Free to use, no obligation
Long-Term Care at a glance
Long-term care homes provide 24-hour nursing and complex care for seniors with heavy medical or daily needs that can no longer be met at home or in a retirement residence. Unlike private retirement living, long-term care is publicly funded and government-regulated, and access runs through your provincial health authority.
That changes how you plan: there is an eligibility assessment, resident co-payments are income-tested and set by the province, and popular homes carry waitlists, so applying early and listing several preferred homes matters. Our long-term care guide explains the process, and the retirement home vs nursing home comparison helps you tell the options apart.
Typical cost in Canada
$2,000–$3,000 income-tested /mo
Illustrative; local rates vary, so ask for a quote.
- Access is typically coordinated through a provincial health authority.
- Wait lists are common; apply early and list multiple preferred homes.
- Costs are partly subsidized, with income-tested resident co-payments.
Where are you looking?
Each city page ranks local long-term care by Confidence Score, with prices, reviews and a simple way to ask about availability.
Highly rated long-term care providers
The Village of Winston Park
80Kitchener
4.6(188)
$4,044–$7,386/mo
Chartwell Langley Gardens Retirement Residence
80Langley
4.8(84)
From $3,765/mo
The Village of Erin Meadows
80Mississauga
4.6(77)
$4,336–$7,197/mo
Chartwell Crescent Gardens Retirement Community
80Surrey
4.9(76)
From $2,875/mo
The Village of Glendale Crossing
80London
4.5(73)
$5,198–$7,601/mo
The Village of Humber Heights
80Toronto
4.5(42)
$5,388–$7,684/mo
Sunrise of Lynn Valley
73North Vancouver
4.7(88)
From $9,698/mo
Sunrise of Vancouver
73Vancouver
4.7(85)
From $8,390/mo
Answer a few questions to get personalized results
Step 1 of 5Who are you searching for?
Questions families ask about long-term care
How much does long-term care cost in Canada?
Long-term care is publicly subsidized, and residents pay an income-tested co-payment set by their province, typically for standard, semi-private, or private rooms. It is usually far less than private assisted living, but access is needs-based.
How do you get into long-term care?
Access runs through your provincial health authority, which assesses eligibility based on care needs. You apply, list preferred homes, and often wait for a bed. A hospital or community care coordinator usually helps arrange it.
What is the difference between long-term care and a retirement home?
Long-term care is publicly funded nursing care for heavy needs, accessed through the province with a waitlist. A retirement home is private-pay housing you can move into directly, for seniors who are more independent.
How long is the wait for long-term care?
It varies widely by province, region, and home, from weeks to well over a year for the most requested homes. Applying early and listing several homes shortens the wait. A crisis placement can move faster from hospital.