14-Day Self-Isolation No Longer Needed for Some Seniors Who Move into a Retirement Home

Until recently, the Ontario government required that all seniors moving into a retirement residence self-isolate for 14 days.

This could have been a big concern if you were contemplating a move to a seniors’ community, particularly if one of your motivations for moving was to form new social connections.

Rule change

As of April 23, 2021, that rule has changed.

Seniors who are fully immunized and have a negative lab-based PCR test no longer have to self-isolate when they move into a retirement community in Ontario.

Fully immunized means that you’ve received all doses in your COVID-19 vaccine series (e.g. both doses of a two-dose vaccine series, or one dose of a single-dose vaccine) and more than 14 days have passed since you received your last dose.

This is good news if you’re fully vaccinated. It means that it will be easier to settle into a retirement community, meet your neighbours, and take part in activities (as allowed by remaining public health measures).

Before the rule change

Before this rule change came into effect, retirement home operators had introduced various measures to make the move-in experience for new residents as positive as possible while they were self-isolating.

For instance, Revera’s Settle In Safe™ program provided a warm welcome to new residents and helped them build new relationships right away.

Revera also offered a payment-free transition period to new residents who moved in before a certain date. It meant they wouldn’t be charged for any services provided during their first 14 days.

Staying up to date

At Tea & Toast, we keep tabs on what retirement homes throughout the Ottawa area are doing to attract new residents and help them settle in. Drop us a line.  

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