Retirement Homes & Assisted Living in London, Ontario
A guide to 34 retirement homes and assisted living options in London, Ontario: what the care levels mean, what to check on a tour, and how our rankings work.
London has 34 retirement homes and assisted living residences listed in this category, ranging from small private-pay homes with a dozen suites to larger campuses that offer independent living, assisted living, and memory care under one roof. This is different from long-term care (nursing homes), which is government-funded and waitlist-driven. Retirement homes are private-pay, licensed under Ontario's Retirement Homes Act, and generally suit people who need help with daily tasks like meals, bathing, medication reminders, or housekeeping but don't require the round-the-clock medical oversight of a nursing home.
What the service actually covers
Most homes offer tiered packages: a base rate for a suite plus meals and light housekeeping, then add-on care levels for things like medication administration, incontinence care, mobility assistance, or dementia support. Some residences specialize in memory care with locked units and dedicated staff ratios. Others are geared toward active seniors who want fewer chores and more social programming rather than hands-on care. It's worth figuring out early which category you're actually shopping for, since pricing and staffing differ a lot between them.
What to look for before signing anything
- Staffing levels overnight, not just during the day, and whether a nurse is on-site or on-call
- What triggers a move to a higher care tier, and how much that tier costs
- Recent inspection reports from the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority
- How move-out or refund policies work if care needs change quickly
- Food quality and whether you can eat a meal there before committing
- Whether the suite size, bathroom setup, and building layout suit mobility aids now and later
Our ranked guide to the best retirement homes in London scores homes on the things families tell us matter most: staffing and care quality, cleanliness and upkeep, transparency around pricing, and how residences respond to complaints or incidents. The full scoring breakdown is on our methodology page if you want to see how we weigh each factor.
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All retirement homes & assisted living, ranked by score and relevance
We found 34 businesses offering retirement homes & assisted living; 22 met the criteria for the scored directory. The order weighs each business's overall score by how much of its reviewed work is retirement homes & assisted living, so a lower-scored specialist can rank above a higher-scored generalist. Filter and sort below, or open the full map view.
When you submit an enquiry through this site's forms, it may be shared with partner providers who can complete the work, and we may receive a referral fee. Our rankings and scores follow our published methodology only and are never influenced by referral fees.
Common questions about retirement homes & assisted living
- How much does a retirement home cost in London, Ontario?
- Basic suites with meals and light housekeeping typically start somewhere in the range of $2,500 to $4,000 a month, with assisted living or memory care packages running higher, often $5,000 to $7,000 or more once you add care hours, medication management, and incontinence support. Ask for a full breakdown of the base rent plus every possible add-on fee before comparing two homes side by side.
- How do I know when it's time to move a parent into assisted living?
- Common signals are repeated falls, missed medications, weight loss from skipped meals, unpaid bills piling up, or a spouse or family caregiver becoming exhausted or unable to keep up. There's rarely one single moment. Many families start by touring homes and asking about respite or short-stay options before committing to a permanent move.
- What's the difference between a retirement home and long-term care in Ontario?
- Retirement homes are private-pay and licensed separately from nursing homes. You choose the home, pay market rent plus care fees, and can usually move in without a waitlist. Long-term care homes are subsidized, require an application through Home and Community Care Support Services, and typically have a waitlist because they serve people with heavier medical needs at a fixed government-set rate.
- How can I judge the quality of a retirement home before moving in?
- Visit unannounced if you can, ask to see the inspection history through the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority's public register, talk to current residents or family members in the common areas, and pay attention to staff turnover and whether call bells get answered quickly during your visit.
Guides to choosing retirement homes & assisted living
- Retirement home costs in London, Ontario: what changes the monthly rate
What drives the monthly cost of a retirement home in London, Ontario: room type, care level, meals, and the extras that show up after move-in.
- Moving a parent into a retirement home: the process, step by step
What actually happens between deciding on a retirement home and move-in day, from tours to paperwork to the first weeks of adjustment.