Senior Living Options in British Columbia

Are you researching Chartwell retirement communities in British Columbia and trying to understand what lifestyle and care options are available? As Chartwell has 17 retirement residences in the province, we likely have a retirement home in your local neighbourhood that will be the right choice for your or a loved one’s next chapter in life.

Below is a summary of the retirement living options in British Columbia at Chartwell retirement residences. Would you prefer being guided through some of the senior living choices available near you or by a loved one? We invite you to use our contact form to call or email us today so our knowledgeable experts can answer your questions and help make your search worry-free.

Interested in an overview of our care levels in British Columbia?

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Explore Chartwell's living options:

Independent Living
Assisted Living
Memory Care
Long Term Care

Independent Living

Independent living in British Columbia is an ideal lifestyle option for active, independent seniors looking to lead a simplified, social, and convenient retirement. Why might you or a loved one choose to move into an independent living residence? Here’s what we hear from our residents:
- You’re finding some of the tasks of home ownership are draining your time and energy—lawn care, costly home repairs, cleaning a large house—and you’d rather focus on the people and pursuits most important to you.
- If you’re ready to downsize, you would prefer living in a quiet and safe community with people who share your interests and stage of life instead of in an all-ages apartment or condominium.
- You’d like to benefit from senior-focused fitness classes, creative activities, social gatherings, or outings when you feel like it, available on your very doorstep.
- You’d appreciate opportunities for casual socialization in a community setting versus living alone.
- You’d sleep better at night knowing that in the event of an emergency, staff are around if you need them, thanks to a call-bell system or personal response pendant.
An enriching social life, friendly staff support, and a sense of personal safety and security are the cornerstones of independent living at Chartwell. There are many valuable services you may find yourself enjoying as a part of this lifestyle, including dining options, housekeeping, laundry, transportation services for appointments or outings, and much more. Access to visiting health care professionals or clinics may also be available, from visiting physicians and nurse practitioners, to blood pressure and foot care clinics.

Independent living residents also enjoy having a selection of on-site amenities that act as an extension of their personal living space—places to garden, be creative, workout, grab a coffee and baked goods with friends, watch the big game, dine, dance, read, and explore.

Speaking of private living space, our independent living suites or apartments often come equipped with kitchenettes or full kitchens, offering the ability to cook, make light meals or snacks, or put on a cup of tea. Different suite layouts and accommodation types you may see at our retirement communities include:
- Studio, one-bedroom, one-bedroom-plus-den, and two-bedroom suites
- Seniors’ apartments in a variety of layouts
- Seniors’ bungalows
If you’re looking for convenient services to make life better without the need for care support, independent living may be the perfect fit for you. Alternatively, if you do need some support with your healthcare needs, our Retirement Living Consultants can help you navigate your homecare options through third-party providers too, empowering you to enjoy the best of both worlds. As some of our retirement communities in British Columbia also offer a continuum of care—meaning assisted living, Memory Living, or long term care services are available within the same building—you can also feel confident aging in place, knowing you can opt into other care options as your needs change.

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Assisted Living

Assisted living in British Columbia is a great option for older adults who would benefit from support with their daily routine or healthcare needs. In addition to delicious and nutritious daily meals, housekeeping, laundry, and transportation services, you or a loved one could find yourself taking advantage of some of the following valuable care services, delivered in-house by trained and friendly Chartwell staff:
- Medication management
- Assistance with your morning or evening routine, including dressing, grooming, and showering
- An escort to meals and activities
- Meal assistance
- And many other customized support options
In addition to a licensed practical nurse and friendly support staff, you or a loved one can also benefit from access to visiting professionals like physicians, services like pharmacy management and delivery, and clinics for blood pressure, physiotherapy, foot care, and more. This is an appreciated feature of assisted living, as it allows you to receive many of your healthcare services within your own home without the need for travel.

Our Health & Wellness Managers are here to partner with you to build a custom plan of care reflective of your or a loved one’s unique needs and preferences, and will review it with you often to ensure we are safely meeting what you require to feel your best each day.

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Memory Care

If you or a loved one are living with dementia or Alzheimer’s, Chartwell’s unique Memory Living program is an ideal lifestyle option to help you live a good day, every day. Offered at Chartwell Langley Gardens in Langley, British Columbia, our dedicated Memory Living Neighbourhood is a safe, secure, and home-like setting designed to elevate the well-being of our residents living with dementia. We offer specialized services that honour a person-centred approach to memory care; one that prioritizes who a person truly is and what can make their living experience better, rather than seeing the disease first and allowing the personal expressions of residents to define who they are.
Unique program features of Memory Living in British Columbia include:
- High resident-to-staff ratios
- Access to nursing staff 24/7
- Dedicated dining and amenity spaces, including secure outdoor space
- Specialized activities and dining
- Interactive neighbourhood design elements that promote easy navigation and independence
- Dedicated Memory Living Managers to support residents and their families
Our Memory Living Manager will partner with you and your family to build a personalized plan of care, designed to maximize your independence, comfort, and quality of life. In addition to three nutritious and tasty meals a day, snacks, housekeeping, and laundry, you or a loved one may receive valuable care services like:
- Assistance with morning or evening routines, including dressing, grooming, showering or continence care
- Cueing assistance and an escort to meals and activities
- Medication management
- Many more customizable services available
Our staff are specially trained to focus on who each of our residents is, including their personal history, likes and dislikes, and what brings them joy and happiness each day. We strive to understand each resident’s unique experience with dementia so we can better soothe personal expressions and redirect to activities, conversations, or people we know spark relaxation or excitement.

As a result, our staff form meaningful, trusted relationships with residents, and go beyond delivering care by “living” in the residence with them—watching a baseball game together, setting the table for dinner, gardening, folding laundry, or any other simple, yet important aspects of daily living that gives you or a loved one purpose and happiness.

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Long Term Care

Chartwell also offers private and funded long term care options in three of our retirement residences in Surrey, Langley, and Maple Ridge. Long term care is the right fit for seniors who are managing complex medical needs and/or advanced stages of dementia, as these settings offer 24/7 nursing care and a safe, secure setting where you or a loved one can receive the personalized support you need to maintain or improve your quality of life.
Services long term care residents often benefit from include:
- Assistance with morning or evening routines, such as showering/bathing, dressing, and grooming
- Medication management and/or injection services
- Continence care
- Specialized dining and meal assistance
- Life enrichment activities geared toward abilities and interests
- Memory care services like cueing, an escort to meal and activities, etc.
If you choose private long term care, our Director of Care will conduct an assessment to understand if you or a loved one are a good fit for the residence and whether we can safely meet your unique needs. You can inquire directly with us, and we also manage any waitlists that may or may not exist for that Chartwell residence.
For individuals instead opting for funded long term care in our residences, private or semi-private accommodations may be available. All applications are coordinated by individual regional health authorities, who plan, integrate, and partially-fund long term care services for you or a loved one. Health authorities also manage waitlists, which are traditionally longer than for those seeking private-pay long term care.

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Chartwell Communities Near You

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Cost of Senior Living in British Columbia

Exploring the cost of retirement residences in British Columbia? Depending on the senior living option you select based on your needs and preferences, the monthly rental cost in a Chartwell retirement community can differ widely. Factors like the size of your suite or apartment, additional services you add to your retirement living package, the luxuriousness of the retirement home you’re interested in, as well as the geographical location of the residence also influence how much you or a loved one may pay per month.

You can find starting at prices for each Chartwell residence on their webpage, which can help you get a better idea of costs in your area. Alternatively, contact us today and we’ll walk you through the specific pricing of Chartwell retirement homes in your neighbourhood and help you understand the costs associated with the services, support, and suite sizes you’re interested in. 

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What is the difference between senior living and long term care?

Still uncertain about what makes a Chartwell retirement residence different than a long term care home? Many people assume the two senior care options are the same thing, but they are quite different in a number of ways, including the level of care support offered, how waiting lists and the move-in process work, as well as how they are regulated and funded by The Government of British Columbia. Read our blog to learn about the key differences between retirement residences and long term care homes.

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Why would I choose retirement living over homecare?

If you or a loved one are considering your aging care options, it’s natural you may be looking at aging at home with private or subsidized homecare services as a possible choice. There are some important differences between retirement living and homecare in terms of benefits that are worth exploring before making your final decision. Review our comparison chart to see how the advantages of each option stack up against one another.

Questions about the lifestyle and care options at Chartwell retirement homes in British Columbia? Contact us today to speak with one of our knowledgeable Retirement Living Consultants or to book a tour at a Chartwell residence in your neighbourhood.

View our comparison chart