Services included in non-medical residences: the details

Meal service: the heart of communal life

Included: 2 hot meals per day (generally breakfast and lunch). Dinner is optional, payable à la carte.

Quality: variable. Some residences have a chef with genuinely refined cuisine. Others are basic but acceptable. There is no all-you-can-eat buffet — meals are served in controlled portions.

Dietary options: vegetarian, low-sodium, sugar-free, soft (for dental issues). BUT be careful if there is a serious allergy or very restrictive diet — not all establishments can accommodate these.

Atmosphere: communal tables (8–10 people). This is where friendships are formed. Some residents on the other hand complain about the noise. Check during your visit whether this suits your style.

Common area vs. personal unit housekeeping

Included: Cleaning of common areas (corridors, dining room, shared bathrooms).

For your room: 1–2 passes per week. Dusting, sweeping, changing bed linens. No deep floor cleaning or intensive housekeeping.

Important: verify the exact number of passes. With simple housekeeping (once a week), your room quickly accumulates dust. Prefer twice a week.

Laundry services

Included: Communal laundry = your clothes washed, dried, and folded by the residence.

Process: you drop off your laundry basket Monday, pick it up Wednesday. Not ideal if you have delicate or special items (silks).

Paid alternative: Washer and dryer in your suite (~$50–100/month extra). Better if you have a lot of laundry or need full control.

Activities and entertainment

Typically included:

• 1–2 activities per day (card games, bingo, gentle yoga, art)
• Weekly outing (market, museum, lunch at a restaurant)
• Musical evening or film 1–2x/month
• Interest groups: gardening, reading, political debate
• Access to computer room, library, creative workshop

Quality: Depends on the residence's budget and number of activity coordinators. A good residence = 1 coordinator per 30–40 residents minimum. Otherwise activities are superficial.

Verify during your visit: Can they show you the calendar for the next 4 weeks? Are activities varied or repetitive? Does it look like genuine engagement or just passing the time?

24/7 security

Included:

• Emergency call button in each room and bathroom
• Staff on site day and night
• Cameras at entrances/exits
• Door locking system (according to policy)
• Fire procedures regularly tested

Important: This does not mean a nurse is on site. It's a care aide who helps you get up, and who calls 911 if you fall. No active medical care.

Common spaces

Typically included:

• Main lounge with TV and chairs
• Billiards/games room
• Dining room
• Library
• Garden or small patio
• Visitor parking

Quality of spaces: important for your daily well-being. A residence with a noisy or poorly maintained lounge = negative atmosphere. Look for cleanliness and comfort.

Services payable as extras

Parking: $100–200/month if your car never leaves the garage.

Phone/cable/internet: $50–100/month (often mandatory for internet, optional for cable).

Beauty services: In-house haircut = $30–40 (vs. $50–80 at a salon). Manicure/pedicure = $25–40.

Private nurse: If you hire one to give medications or change dressings, that's ~$30–40/visit, at your expense.

Specialized transport: Medical appointment by ambulance/adapted taxi = $20–50 round trip depending on distance.

Additional services: Hairdressing, paperwork assistance, concierge (calls, orders), grocery shopping = variable.

What is NOT included

• Nursing care (medication distribution, dressings, catheter)
• Regular personal care assistance (bathing, dressing)
• Physiotherapy or occupational therapy
• Social consultation services (social worker)
• Specialized meals (e.g., complex diabetic diet)
• 24/7 medical assistance (only 911 calls)

If you have these needs, look instead at a residence with care services.