Blackburn Lodge is a "retirement residence", and in the terminology of the Tenant Protection Act, a "care home".

Retirement residences serve seniors, usually 70 years and older, who desire services such as meals, housekeeping, and activities, as well as accomodation. If the facility is also a care home it will provide nursing and related care services at a level which falls between home care and long-term care and overlaps both to the same extent.

At one end of the spectrum, some seniors prefer to receive services similar to homecare in a facility which also offers the opportunity for companionship. Others like the idea that the same staff will be providing their care day after day, and are supervised by managers who work right in their building.

At the other end of the spectrum, many residents prefer to remain in retirement homes as long as possible because long-term care centres can be very depressing environments despite the best offorts of their staff. Up to 70% of long-term care residents suffer from Alzheimer's or related conditions and exhibit behaviours very disturbing to others.  Many other residents are so physically incapacitated they are incapable of participation and only serve as reminders of one's own future deterioration. In contrast, most retirement home residents are active and independent.

Blackburn Lodge offers the usual retirement home services (accomodation including utilities, meals, housekeeping, personal laundry, and activities) and several levels of care to accomodate each resident's individual needs.