Assisted Living Care in Toronto for Seniors

What Is Assisted Living Care?

Assisted living care provides personal support and everyday assistance for seniors who can maintain some independence but need help with activities such as bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, meals or household tasks.

In Ontario, retirement homes commonly provide accommodation along with services such as meals and personal-care assistance. However, the amount and type of support available can vary from one residence and resident to another.

Senior Homecare By Angels does not replace the staff or services provided by a residential facility. Instead, our private caregivers can provide additional individualized support when a senior or their family feels more one-on-one assistance is needed.

This may be helpful for someone who:

Additional One-on-One Care in a Retirement or Assisted Living Residence

A retirement residence may provide many valuable services, but some families want an additional caregiver focused specifically on their parent or family member.

Private assisted living care can supplement the services already available within the residence. A Senior Homecare By Angels caregiver can become familiar with the client’s personal routines, preferences and care needs and provide individualized assistance according to their care plan.

This added support can be especially useful when a resident needs help at particular times of the day, requires more personal attention, or simply benefits from having a familiar caregiver regularly available.

What Can an Assisted Living Caregiver Help With?

Every client’s needs are different. Senior Homecare By Angels develops an individualized care plan based on the assistance the person requires and the services already available within their residence.

Depending on the care plan, a caregiver may help with:

Bathing and Personal Hygiene

A caregiver can assist with bathing or showering, grooming, hair care, shaving and other personal-hygiene routines.

Dressing

Some seniors have difficulty choosing clothing, getting dressed or managing buttons, footwear and other parts of their daily routine. A caregiver can provide the level of assistance needed while encouraging the client to continue doing the parts they can comfortably manage independently.

Toileting and Incontinence Care

Care providers can assist clients who need help getting to and using the washroom, including toileting and incontinence-related personal care. This can include assistance during the evening or nighttime when incorporated into the client’s care arrangement.

Mobility and Ambulation

A caregiver can provide appropriate assistance with walking and everyday mobility according to the client’s abilities and established care plan. For seniors who participate in exercises or mobility activities recommended by qualified health-care professionals, caregivers may also provide appropriate non-medical support within their role.

Companionship

Moving into a residential care setting does not necessarily eliminate loneliness. A private caregiver can provide regular conversation and one-on-one companionship through activities such as talking, looking through photographs, playing games or cards, walking, spending time outdoors or participating in other activities the client enjoys.

Activities and Recreation

Many residences provide organized activities, but some seniors need encouragement or individual assistance to participate. A caregiver can help the client prepare for and take part in appropriate recreational or social activities within their residence.

Meal Preparation and Mealtime Support

Depending on the client’s living arrangement and care plan, caregivers may assist with meal preparation or provide appropriate support around meals.

Light Housekeeping

Additional assistance with everyday housekeeping can help maintain a more comfortable personal living space. Care providers may help with light housekeeping tasks related to the client’s bedroom, bathroom and immediate living environment.

Laundry, Linens and Bed Making

Care can include light laundry, changing linens and making the bed when these services form part of the client’s individualized plan.

Shopping and Errands

A caregiver can assist with grocery shopping and other routine errands when the client needs additional help outside their residence.

Medical Appointments

Families are not always available to accompany an aging parent to every appointment. A Senior Homecare By Angels caregiver can escort a client to medical appointments when appropriate.

Helping Seniors Maintain Their Independence

Needing assistance with some everyday activities does not mean a person should lose control over everything else.

Good assisted living support should provide help where it is needed while allowing seniors to continue making choices and participating in their normal routines whenever possible.

That might mean helping someone get dressed rather than dressing them completely. It might mean providing support while walking rather than automatically using a wheelchair. Or it may simply mean being available when help is needed while giving the person space and privacy when it is not.

Senior Homecare By Angels develops care around each client’s abilities and preferences rather than assuming that everyone living in residential care requires the same level of assistance.

Support During the Transition From Home to Assisted Living

Moving from a longtime home into a retirement residence or residential care setting can be a major adjustment. There is a new environment, new routines, new staff and often many new people to meet.

For a senior who has lived independently for many years, those changes can take time to get used to.

Senior Homecare By Angels can provide additional caregiving support during this transition, helping the client establish routines in their new surroundings while receiving familiar one-on-one assistance.

Depending on the client’s needs, a caregiver may help with:

For families, having additional support during the transition can also make it easier to identify where their loved one may need ongoing assistance.

Assisted Living Care for Someone With Alzheimer’s or Dementia

Moving into an unfamiliar environment can present additional challenges for someone living with Alzheimer’s disease or another form of dementia. Changes in memory, communication and orientation may make it harder to adjust to new surroundings and routines.

A consistent private caregiver can provide additional companionship and support while learning the person’s preferences, routines and ways of communicating.

Depending on the individualized care plan, assistance may include:

Senior Homecare By Angels also provides dedicated Alzheimer’s and Dementia Care in Toronto for clients whose needs are specifically related to memory loss and changing cognitive abilities.

Additional Care When a Senior’s Needs Increase

A person may move into a retirement or assisted living residence with relatively few care needs. Over time, those needs can change.

A senior who initially only needed help with housekeeping or meals may later require assistance with personal hygiene, toileting, mobility or other activities throughout the day.

Families may notice changes such as:

When this happens, adding private caregiver support may allow the senior to receive more individualized attention without immediately changing residences again.

Assisted Living Care vs. Home Care

The main difference is where the client lives.

With traditional Home Care, a caregiver provides support in the client’s private home.

With the assisted living support offered by Senior Homecare By Angels, a caregiver can provide additional personalized assistance to someone who already lives in a retirement residence, residential care setting, adult group home or similar environment.

Many of the actual caregiving services may be similar, including personal care, bathing and dressing, toileting, companionship, meal support, mobility assistance, housekeeping, laundry, errands and appointment accompaniment. The care plan is adapted to the client’s individual needs and to the services already provided by their residence.

Assisted Living vs. Live-In Care at Home

Families sometimes wonder whether their parent should move into a residential setting or remain in their own home with additional care. These are different options.

Assisted living or retirement-home care involves living in a residential community where various services may already be available. Live-In Care allows someone to remain in their own home while receiving extensive assistance from a caregiver who stays in the residence.

There is no single option that is best for every senior. Factors such as health, mobility, cognitive abilities, social needs, personal preferences, home environment, available family support and the amount of care required can all influence the decision.

Supporting Family Members

Even after a parent moves into a retirement or assisted living residence, family members often remain deeply involved in their care. Adult children may still attend medical appointments, help with personal needs, visit frequently, shop for clothing or personal items, manage errands, monitor changes in their parent’s abilities and provide companionship and emotional support.

Private caregiving can share some of these day-to-day responsibilities. This can allow family members to spend more of their visits being a son, daughter, spouse or friend rather than using every visit to complete a list of caregiving tasks.

How Our Assisted Living Care Process Works

Why Families Choose Senior Homecare By Angels Toronto

Senior Homecare By Angels Toronto has been providing private, non-medical care to seniors and adults in Toronto since 2008. Our goal is to provide additional support while respecting the client’s independence, dignity and personal preferences. Families choose us for:

The objective is not to replace the care already available within a senior’s residence. It is to provide additional personalized assistance when that individual needs more support.

Frequently Asked Questions About Assisted Living Care

What is assisted living care?

Assisted living care provides support with everyday activities for seniors who maintain some independence but require assistance with needs such as bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility, meals, housekeeping or appointments.

Does Senior Homecare By Angels operate an assisted living facility?

Senior Homecare By Angels Toronto is a private, non-medical home-care company. Its assisted living service provides caregivers who can offer additional individualized support to clients living in residential care and adult group-home settings.

Can I hire a private caregiver for my parent in a retirement home?

Yes. Palliative care can be provided in the home as well as hospitals, hospices, long-term care homes and other care settings. Senior Homecare By Angels provides non-medical caregiving support for clients at home and in other settings depending on their circumstances.

What can an assisted living caregiver help with?

Depending on the client’s care plan, assistance may include bathing, grooming, toileting, mobility, activities, housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, errands, shopping, appointment accompaniment, bed making and companionship.

Can a caregiver help my parent adjust after moving into a retirement residence?

Yes. Senior Homecare By Angels can provide caregiver support during the transition from a private home into residential care. A caregiver can help the client establish everyday routines and provide additional personal assistance and companionship during the adjustment period.

Can you provide additional care for someone with dementia who lives in a residence?

Yes. Senior Homecare By Angels provides Alzheimer’s and dementia care in addition to assisted living support. The appropriate care arrangement depends on the individual’s cognitive abilities, personal-care needs, mobility and level of supervision required.

Can we meet the caregiver before care begins?

Yes. Clients and families have the opportunity to meet care providers referred by Senior Homecare By Angels and participate in the final caregiver-selection decision before services begin.

What if my parent’s needs increase after moving into assisted living?

Additional private caregiver support can be considered when a resident begins needing more help with personal care, mobility, companionship or other daily activities. The care plan can be reviewed as the client’s circumstances change.

Is assisted living the same as a long-term care home?

No. In Ontario, retirement homes, supportive housing and long-term care are distinct types of care and housing arrangements with different services and requirements. Senior Homecare By Angels provides private non-medical caregiver support rather than operating a long-term care home.