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Home care and support
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Publicly funded home care for seniors is run by your province or territory. You, a family member or your doctor contacts the local home care office, a care coordinator assesses your needs, and the program decides what help you get. Nursing is usually free; help with bathing, cleaning or meals may be free or may cost a fee based on income, depending on where you live.
Key facts
- Ontario Health atHome
- 1-833-515-1234
- Alberta (Health Link)
- 811
- Nova Scotia Continuing Care
- 1-800-225-7225
- Referral needed?
- Usually not. In most places you can call yourself.
- Veterans Affairs Canada
- 1-866-522-2122
What is home care?
Home care is health care and practical help that you receive in your own home. It is meant to help you stay safe and independent at home for as long as possible, recover after a hospital stay, or get care at the end of life.
Each province and territory runs its own program, but the services are similar. They often include nursing (for example, wound care or help with medications), physiotherapy and occupational therapy, personal care such as bathing and dressing, help around the home, meals, equipment loans and short breaks for family caregivers (respite).
Who can get government home care?
There is usually no minimum age. You need a valid provincial or territorial health card and a need that a home care assessment confirms. The program looks at your health, how well you manage daily tasks, and what help you already have from family and others.
Because services are based on assessed need, two people with the same diagnosis may get different amounts of help. The program decides how much and what type of care you receive.
Is home care for seniors free?
Professional services, such as nursing and therapy, are free in most provinces. Help with daily living, such as personal care, cleaning and meals, is free in some provinces and has an income-based fee in others. For example:
- Ontario: nursing, therapy, personal support and end-of-life care through Ontario Health atHome are government-funded. Community support services, such as meal programs, may have a client co-payment.
- British Columbia: home support has a daily rate based on income. People who get the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or the Allowance pay nothing. If you have earned income, you are not charged more than $300 a month. You can ask for a lower rate if paying causes serious financial hardship.
- Saskatchewan: nursing assessment, care coordination and therapy are free. Homemaking, meals and home maintenance have fees based on income and the number of services.
- Nova Scotia: nursing is free. Other home care costs depend on your income and the services you need.
- New Brunswick: in-home support (personal care, light housekeeping, meals) is not covered by Medicare, but the province helps pay if you cannot afford the full cost.
How to get home care: who to call in each province and territory
- Ontario: Ontario Health atHome. Call 1-833-515-1234. A care coordinator assesses your needs and arranges home care or community services.
- Quebec: your local CLSC (local community service centre). Apply directly to the CLSC, which assesses your needs. Seniors 70 and older may also claim a refundable Quebec tax credit for home-support services.
- British Columbia: home and community care office of your health authority (Fraser, Interior, Island, Northern or Vancouver Coastal). You can refer yourself, or a doctor, nurse, pharmacist or social worker can refer you.
- Alberta: call Health Link at 811. A registered nurse helps set up an assessment. No referral is needed, and someone can call for you.
- Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan Health Authority home care. Contact your local office through the health authority's website.
- Manitoba: Home Care Program through your regional health authority. Winnipeg: 204-926-7000. Interlake-Eastern: 1-855-347-8500. Northern: 204-687-4870. Prairie Mountain: 1-855-474-3338. Southern Health-Santé Sud: 1-800-742-6509.
- New Brunswick: for nursing and rehabilitation at home, the Extra-Mural Program (506-457-4800), which you or your family can contact directly. For in-home support, your local Social Development office, where a social worker assesses your needs.
- Nova Scotia: Continuing Care at 1-800-225-7225. A care coordinator meets with you to complete the assessment.
- Prince Edward Island: Health PEI Home Care. You, your family or your doctor can send a referral form to your local office. Charlottetown: 902-368-4790. Summerside: 902-888-8440. Montague: 902-838-0786. Souris: 902-687-7096. O'Leary: 902-859-8730.
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Home Support Program through your regional health authority. Staff assess whether you are eligible for a subsidy.
- Yukon: Home Care Program. You can refer yourself by phone. Whitehorse: 867-667-5774. Toll-free: 1-877-667-5774.
- Northwest Territories: your local Health and Social Services Authority home care program or community health centre.
- Nunavut: your community health centre or local home care office. You do not need a referral. Territorial Home and Continuing Care Program: 867-975-5941.
How the home care assessment works
- Call your local home care office, or ask your doctor, nurse or hospital team to make a referral. If you are in hospital, ask for home care to be arranged before you go home.
- A care coordinator, case manager or nurse arranges to meet you, usually in your home.
- Have ready your health card, your doctor's name and number, a list of your medications, an emergency contact, and, where fees depend on income, your most recent tax information.
- Be honest and specific about what you struggle with, such as getting in and out of the bath, managing pills or making meals. Ask a family member to join you if that helps.
- If you qualify, the coordinator works with you and your family to set up a care plan, which says what help you will get and how often.
- Ask to be reassessed if your needs change.
What to do if you are refused or the care is not enough
Start by asking the care coordinator to explain the decision in writing and to reassess you if your situation has changed. Many complaints are settled this way.
In Ontario, you can appeal a decision about eligibility, the amount of service or an end to service to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board (1-866-282-2179). For help with a complaint, you can contact the Patient Ombudsman (1-888-321-0339). To report harm or neglect in home care, call the Long-Term Care ACTION Line at 1-866-434-0144.
In Manitoba, home care decisions can be appealed to the Manitoba Health Appeal Board. In other provinces and territories, ask your health authority for its complaint or patient relations process.
Home help for veterans
The Veterans Independence Program from Veterans Affairs Canada can help pay for services such as grounds maintenance (snow removal, lawn care), housekeeping, personal care, meal delivery and some nursing visits. It is open to some veterans, survivors and primary caregivers, after an assessment shows a need. Call Veterans Affairs Canada at 1-866-522-2122, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time.
Things people miss
- You do not have to wait for a doctor. In most provinces and territories you can call the home care office yourself.
- Home care is based on need, not age. A spouse under 65 can be assessed too.
- Family caregivers can ask about respite, which gives them a break.
- Fees you pay for home attendant care may count toward the medical expense tax credit, and people with a severe and lasting impairment may qualify for the Disability Tax Credit.
- If you are paying privately for help while you wait, keep your receipts.
Who to contact
- Ontario Health atHome
Phone: 1-833-515-1234 - Ontario Health Services Appeal and Review Board
Phone: 1-866-282-2179
Toronto area: 416-327-8512 - Ontario Patient Ombudsman
Phone: 1-888-321-0339
Toronto area: 416-597-0339 - Alberta Health Link
Phone: 811 - Nova Scotia Continuing Care
Phone: 1-800-225-7225 - New Brunswick Extra-Mural Program
Phone: 506-457-4800
Monday to Friday, 8:15 am to 4:30 pm - Yukon Home Care Program
Phone: 1-877-667-5774
Whitehorse: 867-667-5774 - Nunavut Territorial Home and Continuing Care Program
Phone: 867-975-5941 - Veterans Affairs Canada
Phone: 1-866-522-2122
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time
Common questions
How do I get home care for my elderly parent?
Call the home care office in your parent's province or territory, such as Ontario Health atHome or Alberta's Health Link at 811. In most places a family member can call on your parent's behalf. A care coordinator then assesses your parent's needs.
Is home care free in Ontario?
Nursing, therapy, personal support and end-of-life care through Ontario Health atHome are government-funded. Some community support services, such as meal programs, may have a co-payment.
Do I need a doctor's referral for home care?
Usually not. Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, PEI, Yukon and Nunavut all let you refer yourself. A doctor can also refer you.
How many hours of home care can I get?
There is no set number. The program decides based on your assessment, your health and the support you already have. Ask to be reassessed if your needs change.
What is the phone number for Ontario Health atHome?
Call 1-833-515-1234.
Do seniors on GIS pay for home support in BC?
No. In British Columbia, people who get the Guaranteed Income Supplement do not pay the daily rate for home support.
Can I appeal a home care decision?
In Ontario, you can appeal to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board. In Manitoba, you can appeal to the Manitoba Health Appeal Board. Elsewhere, ask your health authority about its complaint process.
Does Veterans Affairs pay for help at home?
The Veterans Independence Program may pay for housekeeping, grounds maintenance, personal care and other services for eligible veterans, survivors and primary caregivers. Call 1-866-522-2122.
Sources
- Home care for seniors (Government of Ontario)
- Ontario Health atHome (Ontario Health atHome)
- Coping with a loss of independence (Government of Quebec)
- How to arrange for care (Government of British Columbia)
- Home support (Government of British Columbia)
- How to access continuing care (Government of Alberta)
- Home care (Government of Saskatchewan)
- Home Care Program (Government of Manitoba)
- Extra-Mural Program (Government of New Brunswick)
- Seniors: frequently asked questions (Government of New Brunswick)
- Home care (Government of Nova Scotia)
- Home Care Program (Government of Prince Edward Island)
- Community support services (Government of Newfoundland and Labrador)
- Learn about the Home Care Program (Government of Yukon)
- Home and Community Care (Government of the Northwest Territories)
- Home, Community, and Continuing Care (Government of Nunavut)
- Veterans Independence Program: Benefits at Home Policy (Veterans Affairs Canada)
- Veterans Affairs Canada: Contact us (Veterans Affairs Canada)