A Guide to Retirement Care & Senior Living in Prince George

The city of Prince George is often considered a quaint and fascinating community with countless outdoor activities, providing seniors with one of the lowest costs of living and retiring in the province, quality healthcare, and an active and fulfilling lifestyle. Its many lakes, parks, trails, and community centres are just a few of the many reasons seniors choose to retire in the city, where they can enjoy a tranquil and active retirement lifestyle. If retiring in Prince George sounds like the right fit for you, Cared Upon can help you find a senior living community in the city made for you. 

The city of Prince George is well known for its expansive outdoor spaces, so seniors retiring in the area will find a host of parks, lakes, recreation centers, and hiking trails to explore and keep active during retirement. As the city features over 106 kilometres of trails, many residents find themselves getting their daily walking in along popular trails such as Cottonwood Island Nature Park, Memorial Park, and Ginter’s Meadow. For retirees that enjoy visiting riverfront parks, Forests for the World park and the Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve are among some of the popular spaces where residents go fishing, kayaking, canoeing, or strolling along the waterfront. Additionally, residents have access to community centers, such as CN center, where they can take part in recreation programs such as health and wellness programs, sports programs, and even arts and music programs. 

Prince George is known to have a cold and temperate climate, with comfortably warm summers and freezing, snowy, winters. Annually, the weather is partly overcast with a significant amount of rainfall. Winter temperatures are likely to average between -11°C to -3°C (12.2-26.6°F). During the summertime, you’ll find average temperatures to range anywhere between 8-22°C (46.4-71.6°F).  

Older adults residing in British Columbia have a number of options when it comes to retirement housing, from ageing in place to assisted living. Retirees in B.C. are entitled to care and support through either publicly subsidized care or private pay providers. Older adults that are eligible for publicly subsidized home services can access these services through health authorities and contracted providers once they have gone through a formal assessment to determine the type of care they need. On the other hand, individuals who wish to choose their desired care service can do so by accessing these services directly from a service provider. To search for a care service provider in B.C., visit the search portal on caredupon.ca. 

The cost of retiring in British Columbia can vary depending on the city you reside in and the quality of care you wish to receive. For instance, the cost of assisted living in B.C. typically starts at $3000, but you may find subsidized options to fit your budget. Factors such as the type of healthcare needed, the lifestyle you wish to have, and how much money you’ll receive from investments and pensions will all impact the cost of your retirement plan. You can access the Canadian Government website as they provide a useful budget planning tool to help set you up for your personal retirement goals. 

Government Funding 

When retiring in B.C., you may also access several financial resources funded by the Government to help you prepare and pay for your retirement. If eligible, you may access funding through Government programs such as the Canadian Pension Plan Retirement Pension (CPP), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), Old Age Security Pension (OAS), and the Allowance for the Survivor benefit program. Additionally, low-income seniors residing in B.C. that are entitled to Old Age Security Pension (OAS) and Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) allowances can continue receiving these payments even when moved into a long-term care facility. For more information on Government contributions, visit our care blog. 

In the case that you do not meet the eligibility criteria for receiving Government funding, you have several options for post-retirement income sources. 

Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) and Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs): Using a Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs) or a Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSAs), your post-retirement income is dependent on the amount you put into these accounts when you first began saving and the interest you received.  

Investment accounts: You may prepare for retirement through more common forms of post-income sources using taxable investment accounts. These can include investments from accounts such as stocks and bonds. 

Employer-sponsored pension plans: Under an employer-sponsored pension plan, you and your employer can contribute money over the course of your employment. When you decide to retire, you can access the income directly saved from the plan.  

To learn more about your options for post-retirement income sources, visit our resource centre. 

Planning and supporting the health care of B.C.’s senior population is vital, as it is estimated that by 2029 approximately 30% of Canada’s seniors will be aged 75-84. Health care in B.C is ultimately managed by the Ministry of Health through a public health care system. Seniors residing in B.C. have access to various healthcare programs, such as HealthLink BC, PharmaCare, the Travel Assistance Program, and the Medical Services Plan.  

Medical Services Plan (MSP): To access health care, all B.C. residents are required to sign up through MSP. Through the Medical Services Plan (MSP), British Columbians are insured for medically required services. Some of these medically required services include diagnostic procedures, laboratory services, physician and surgeon services, and approved dental and oral surgery services.  

The Fair PharmaCare plan: Eligible seniors residing in B.C. can receive coverage on prescription drugs and medical supplies through The Fair PharmaCare plan, a health care plan that assists B.C. seniors with medical costs based on their personal income. 

HealthLink BC: HealthLink BC provides British Columbians with 24/7 access to non-emergency health services and information in the province. Their information services cover the topics of health and health care, symptoms you are experiencing, and ways to manage healthy living. 

Travel Assistance Living: The Travel Assistance Program (TAP) offers patients that require transportation to physician-referred, non-emergency services within the province when a specialist is not available in the community surrounding them. Transportation is offered at a discounted rate and is available to those who do not have travel expenses covered by insurance or other government programs.  

For further information, you can visit and/or contact these sources:  

Fair PharmaCare: 604-683-7151 (Lower Mainland) or 1-800-663-7100 (Toll-free)  

HealthLink BC: non-emergency health information hotline 8-1-1 toll-free or for deaf/hard of hearing patients: 7-1-1 

Seniors Health Care Support Line: 1-877-952-3181 

SeniorsBC - A resource centre for all older adults residing in B.C. 

BC Seniors’ Guide – Information guide to all things healthy lifestyle-related for seniors