Heading into retirement can be both exciting and scary because of the newness of it all. For those living in the Ottawa area, retiring isn’t simply about ceasing to work; it’s about finding and creating a new life conducive to your current lifestyle, state of health, and financial situation.

That said, it’s not always easy to figure out the retirement landscape without a bit of help from people who know the city best. That’s why, if you’re an Ottawa resident who has retired or is gearing up to retire, there are some things you should know about retirement living in Canada’s capital.  

Tips for Downsizing

Retiring often comes with another significant change: moving house. Older adults who no longer work frequently look to downsize because there’s just no need for all that space to clean, maintain, and take care of. You want to enjoy your retirement, not spend most of the time taking care of a home that’s far too large for you to enjoy.

Downsizing isn’t always easy, either. Your entire life is in your current home, and sifting through it all to decide what to keep and what to throw away can be arduous. That said, there are some ways to make it a bit easier, such as:

• Starting early: If you know you’ll be moving to a retirement community, start downsizing as soon as you decide. That means creating a timeline, sticking to it, and breaking up tasks into small and manageable chunks that can be completed easily over time.

• Assess needs: Before you start to clean out the house, pick and choose which items you cannot live without. These will be the must-haves when you move to your new retirement community, and you should have these ironed out before you make room for anything else.

• Sort and declutter: Starting in one room at a time, start to go through all of your belongings and categorize them into piles of things you’d like to keep, donate, sell, or toss. When it comes to sentimental items, choose the ones with the most emotional value because you can’t take everything with you. Those you can’t keep can be photographed and stored easily, so you don’t have to say goodbye altogether.

• Maximize storage: If you plan to keep more than you have space for, closet organizers, under-bed storage, and multi-purpose furniture can help you store more things without creating a significantly cluttered space.

Once you’ve done that, you’ll be ready to call somewhere else home.

Best Communities for Retirees

Ottawa has many retirement communities, some of which are better than others. The top five that offer the best rates, locations, and amenities include:

• Waterford Retirement Community: The condo-style community offers a high level of care without sacrificing too much independence.

• Rockcliffe Retirement Residence: This retirement community offers hotel-like features and is surrounded by greenspace for those who want to be close to nature.

• Cité Parkway Retirement Residence: People love that in-house family physicians are available for care, and the personalized care plans ensure every resident is adequately cared for.

• Governors Walk Retirement Residence: This retirement residence has a chapel and mass services for those who wish to practice religion without having to stray too far from home. It’s also near a lake and offers great views from the apartments.  

• Wellings of Stittsville: This facility, located on the outskirts of Ottawa, offers great views, fine dining, and other social activities for those who want to build and maintain new friendships in retirement. 

Each retirement community has its specialties, giving people the chance to pick and choose based on what’s most important to them and their retirement lifestyle.

Senior-friendly amenities

The city of Ottawa has many amenities that will allow retirees to socialize and keep up with physical activity after moving into their new retirement community. People over 65 also receive discounts on City of Ottawa programs.

Programs offered include:

• Fitness memberships

• Adult day programs for older adults living with dementia

• Cultural programs geared toward creating inclusivity and inclusion among social groups

• Programs, workshops, and access to books, movies, and computers at Ottawa Public Library locations across the city

• Drop-in activities at one of the senior centres in the city (for adults over 50)

• Accessible public transit, with all vehicles fully accessible for those with mobility issues and discount fares for those over 65

• Health and wellness programs geared toward teaching older adults about fall protection, improving their exercise, and connecting with other older adults for strong emotional and mental health

All these programs assist older adults in the transition, ensuring their lives flourish after moving into a retirement community.

Retiring isn’t always easy, but with the right tips, support, and amenities, it can feel like starting anew in the best way possible.