About this Calculator
We survey Vancouver Island residential care facilities throughout the year and summarize the results here in a usable format.
This is an estimation tool, not an apples-to-apples comparison. Facilities price things differently. One place might bundle several add-on tasks into a daily care-level surcharge (plus a few standalone add-ons), while another lists every task piecemeal.
Vancouver Island Senior Care Facility Rate Reference
Updated May 2026 · 65 facilities surveyed
Residential care on Vancouver Island covers three distinct care levels (Independent Living, Assisted Living, Long-Term Care) and three unit sizes (studio, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom). Rates vary more by care level and ownership model than by location. The tables below summarise the current island-wide picture; the interactive filter tool further down lets you narrow by region and ownership.
| Unit | Low | Median | Average | High | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $825 | $3,595 | $5,141 | $12,000 | 35 |
| 1-bedroom | $750 | $3,798 | $4,078 | $12,400 | 54 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,250 | $5,600 | $5,306 | $10,485 | 32 |
| Care level | Low | Median | Average | High | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Independent Living | $750 | $3,765 | $3,585 | $6,175 | 47 |
| Assisted Living | $3,225 | $4,500 | $5,568 | $9,900 | 9 |
| Long-Term Care | $3,500 | $9,186 | $9,126 | $12,400 | 13 |
| Ownership | Low | Median | Average | High | Sample |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| For-profit | $1,437 | $4,650 | $5,560 | $12,400 | 41 |
| Non-profit | $750 | $3,284 | $3,369 | $9,430 | 21 |
Facility Add-On Costs — Where the Monthly Bill Escalates
Most Vancouver Island residential care facilities publish a base rate (room + hospitality) and then charge separately for any clinical or personal-care service above a minimum threshold. Once you need help with showers, medications, mobility, or feeding, the add-on line-items start stacking. This is the single biggest source of “surprise bills” families see in assisted and long-term care.
10 of the facilities in our survey publish itemised add-on pricing. The table below summarises what they charge. Every facility has a different list — not all charge for every item shown — and many bundle some tasks into a daily care-level surcharge instead.
| Service | Low | Average | High | Facilities reporting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shower (per occurrence) | $30.00 | $36.00 | $42.00 | 8 |
| Bath (per occurrence) | $30.00 | $42.00 | $52.00 | 6 |
| AM assist (per day) | $10.00 | $26.00 | $45.00 | 6 |
| PM assist (per day) | $10.00 | $22.00 | $33.00 | 5 |
| Laundry (per week) | $39.00 | $66.00 | $100.00 | 5 |
| Bed making (per week) | $14.00 | $20.00 | $26.00 | 4 |
| Medication reminders (per month) | $10.00 | $12.00 | $14.00 | 5 |
| Meal-time escort (per meal) | $19.00 | $23.00 | $27.00 | 4 |
| Tray delivery (per tray) | $7.50 | $8.00 | $7.50 | 1 |
| TED stockings (per day) | $19.00 | $22.00 | $25.00 | 4 |
| 15-min additional care | $60.00 | $71.00 | $80.00 | 5 |
| 1-hr companion add-on | $46.00 | $64.00 | $80.00 | 4 |
| Meds (1×/day) | $298.00 | $298.00 | $298.00 | 2 |
| Meds (2×/day) | $600.00 | $600.00 | $600.00 | 5 |
| Meds (3×/day) | $894.00 | $894.00 | $894.00 | 2 |
| Meds (4×/day) | $1,190.00 | $1,190.00 | $1,190.00 | 2 |
| Background check (one-time) | $18.00 | $18.00 | $18.00 | 2 |
| O&sub2; management (per day) | $14.00 | $14.00 | $14.00 | 2 |
| CPAP / BiPAP (per day) | $18.00 | $18.00 | $18.00 | 2 |
| Wound care (per visit) | $26.00 | $26.00 | $26.00 | 2 |
| Second resident (per month) | $500.00 | $793.00 | $900.00 | 21 |
Home care costs scale in a transparent way: more hours, more money. Facility care often hides add-on charges that stack up and surprise families at the end of the month. When you're planning, run the numbers for both the best and worst case before you commit.