Is home care cheaper than a retirement home?

For low hours of support per week, home care is usually cheaper. As care needs climb toward all-day or overnight coverage, the hourly cost of home care can end up higher than a retirement home's all-in monthly rate.

Can home care and a retirement home be combined?

Yes. Some families keep a parent at home with part-time paid care for as long as it's manageable, then move to a retirement home once needs increase or the house becomes unsafe.

What if care needs are too high for a retirement home?

Retirement homes generally aren't set up for heavy medical or behavioural needs; at that point long-term care or memory care becomes the more realistic option.

In-home care or a retirement home: which fits your situation

This is one of the most common forks families hit: keep a parent in their own house with hired help coming in, or move them into a retirement home where meals, staff, and social activity are built into the building. Both are private-pay options in London, Ontario, and neither is inherently 'better'; they suit different situations.

In-home care keeps someone in a familiar house and can be scaled from a few hours a week up to around-the-clock coverage, but the family usually manages scheduling, coordinates with an agency, and deals with the house itself (stairs, isolation, driving). A retirement home bundles housing, meals, housekeeping, and some personal care into one monthly cost and puts staff on site, but it means leaving the family home and adjusting to a communal setting.

Level of care needed now versus what's likely in 1-3 years
Whether the home has stairs, isolation risk, or upkeep the person can no longer manage
How much family involvement in coordinating care is realistic
Social isolation at home versus built-in activity in a retirement setting

What it costs

In-home care is usually billed hourly through an agency, so cost scales directly with how many hours of coverage are booked each week; light part-time support costs much less than near-24/7 care. Retirement homes charge a monthly rate that bundles rent, meals, and a base level of care, with extra fees layered on for higher care needs. Which is cheaper depends entirely on how many care hours a person actually needs.

Top 3 by our score

Ranked from our published scoring of public Google reviews for in-home senior care.

1. Senior Home Care by Angels London
4.9★ · 101 reviews

88
2. Home Instead
4.9★ · 104 reviews

88
3. Right at Home In-Home Care London & St. Thomas
4.9★ · 33 reviews

80

See the full ranking → · Browse all providers

FAQ

Is home care cheaper than a retirement home?: For low hours of support per week, home care is usually cheaper. As care needs climb toward all-day or overnight coverage, the hourly cost of home care can end up higher than a retirement home's all-in monthly rate.
Can home care and a retirement home be combined?: Yes. Some families keep a parent at home with part-time paid care for as long as it's manageable, then move to a retirement home once needs increase or the house becomes unsafe.
What if care needs are too high for a retirement home?: Retirement homes generally aren't set up for heavy medical or behavioural needs; at that point long-term care or memory care becomes the more realistic option.

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