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Lorena Smalley

SENIORS HOUSING 101 HANDBOOK

Each year, the Westend Seniors Activity Centre and our satellite office in Sherwood Park, WESeniors Strathcona hosts our Active Aging Series: Seniors Housing 101.

The goal of these events is to bring in guest speakers who will educate attendees on issues such as:

  • Independent vs Assisted Living in Retirement Residences: Knowing the Difference
  • Navigating Subsidized Housing, and
  • 20 Important Questions to Ask When Choosing a Retirement Home

Below are some of the resources we have created for seniors to take with them when visiting retirement communities to try and find their next home.

SENIORS HOUSING 101 HANDBOOK

This handbook has been created to give you a way to visit up to 3 different retirement residences, ask questions to get an idea on what they have to offer and be able to compare apples to apples!

CLICK HERE to download the SENIORS HOUSING 101 handbook

DON’T MISS OUR OPEN HOUSE EVENTS – SEE IT FOR YOURSELF!

We’re also thrilled to announce that WESeniors is partnering with some wonderful seniors residences to host Open House events from Monday, April 14 to Thursday, April 17, 2025.

Whether you’re seeking housing for yourself, a loved one, or helping others navigate the process, this event will provide valuable insights and practical resources on seniors housing.

RSVP now and learn more about the Open House HERE!

Did you know there are approximately 83 senior living locations in and around Edmonton and area?

These include active living, independent living, assisted living, and long-term care homes. But what does all these terms mean?

Throw in terms like supportive living and subsidized housing it quickly can become overwhelming to try and understand seniors housing here in Alberta.

In August 2024, we hosted our 1st ever Seniors Housing 101 series to educate our members on what these terms mean, showcase the types of housing options available, the costs, and how to navigate subsidized housing.

The event was a huge success but we also saw that because of all these different terms it was like comparing apples to oranges.

HOUSING RESOURCES

There are several excellent online resources that can provide you with detailed listings and information on seniors’ housing and continuing care services in Edmonton and the surrounding areas. We highly recommend exploring the following:
  • Edmonton55 Senior Housing Directory: https://www.edmonton55.com/ – This directory allows you to search and filter by housing type, support levels, location, and amenities.
  • Alberta Seniors & Community Housing Association (ASCHA) Housing Directory: https://housingdirectory.ascha.com/ – This directory lists members of ASCHA, which includes many seniors’ housing providers across Alberta.
  • GEF Seniors Housing: https://housing.gef.org/ – Explore the various apartment and lodge accommodations offered by the Greater Edmonton Foundation.
  • Sage Seniors Association – Seniors Housing Directory: https://www.mysage.ca/publications/directory – This directory from Sage provides a list of housing options in the Edmonton area.
  • City of Edmonton – Seniors Housing: https://www.edmonton.ca/programs_services/for_seniors/seniors-housing – The City of Edmonton’s website offers information and links to various housing resources for seniors.
  • St. Albert Seniors Housing Directory (PDF): https://stalbert.ca/site/assets/files/2483/2024_seniorshousingdirectory_updated.pdf – While focused on St. Albert, this directory may also list some residences in the broader Edmonton area.
  • Calling 211: By dialing 211, you can speak with an information and referral specialist who can provide you with details on various seniors’ housing options and continuing care services in the Edmonton area based on your specific needs.
  • Visiting the 211 Alberta Website: Their website, https://ab.211.ca/who-we-are/about/, also offers a searchable database of community resources, including housing and health services for seniors. You can filter your search by location and type of care.

If you have any further questions, please contact our Outreach Program at 780-483-1209 ext 223.

WE WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO COMPARE APPLES TO APPLES!

  • We have arranged Open House Events for you.  This is a fantastic opportunity for you to visit a few retirement residences, see the different options in retirement living and ask any questions you may have.
  • We have also created a handbook with all the questions you need to ask to determine which could be a future home for you!

FUTURE PRESENTATIONS

Make sure to watch our upcoming presentations: