Care Options

Check with your provincial or territorial Ministry or Department of Health to see if you qualify for government-funded services. If you don’t qualify, you can arrange and pay for services through a private company. Some provinces and territories offer government programs to help you find private services in your community.

Range of services available includes home and community as well as long-term care. They are all called different things in different regions, but generally speaking, they are referred to as follows:

• Home care, community care – services provided in the home that range from home making supports to personal and nursing care – most home care is government funded, but you will have to check to see if you qualify
• Respite care – temporary care for the caregiver, provides patient care in the home or in a care facility or adult day program usually offered by both government programs and private companies for a fee
• Assisted living – a range of support services provided such as meal preparation and laundry, and may include some health-related services (this is the middle option between independent living and long-term care) Most assisted living services are offered by private companies for a fee
• Nursing home/long-term care facilities, mandated by the healthcare system – receive 24 hour, 7 day a week professional care usually offered by government or private companies – most facilities are government funded, but you will have to check to see if you qualify

"Home and community care" services help people to receive care at home, rather than in a hospital or long-term care facility, and to live as independently as possible in the community. Home and community care services are delivered by regulated health care professionals (e.g., nurses), non-regulated workers, volunteers, friends and family caregivers.

Goals of home and community care

• Help people maintain or improve their health status and quality of life
• Assist people in remaining as independent as possible,
• Support families in coping with a family member's need for care
• Help people stay at or return home and receive needed treatment, rehabilitation or palliative care
• Provide informal/family caregivers with the support they need

Services delivered in the home can help people with minor health problems and disabilities as well as those who need intensive and sophisticated services and equipment. Home care services may include:

• Nursing
• Personal care such as help with bathing, dressing, and feeding
• Physiotherapy
• Occupational therapy
• Speech therapy
• Social work
• Dietitian services
• Homemaking
• Respite services

There are other services available in the community, such as day programs for people with Alzheimer's disease, Meals on Wheels, or friendly visitor programs.

Source:  Health Canada

In general, assisted living facilities provide accommodation for anyone with some limitations in physical/cognitive health and require on-site assistance with personal care, mobility, medication management and support. Assisted living benefits individuals who need regular help with daily activities but do not need nursing home or long-term care.

In general, long-term care facilities provide living accommodation for people who require on-site delivery of 24 hour, 7 days a week supervised care, including professional health services, personal care and services such as meals, laundry and housekeeping. Long-term facilities-based care is not publicly insured under the Canada Health Act. It is governed by provincial and territorial legislation. Across the country, jurisdictions offer a different range of services and cost coverage. Consequently, there is little consistency across Canada in:

• what facilities are called (e.g. nursing home, personal care facility, residential continuing care facility, etc.)
• the level or type of care offered and how it is measured
• how facilities are governed or who owns them

Source:  Health Canada

Retirement home is a broad term used to include all sorts of seniors’ homes. There are retirement home association that are membership-based organizations that allow seniors’ homes to voluntarily submit themselves to increased scrutiny. Homes that are members of such associations must meet standards to maintain association approval. When searching for a home, inquire if they are a member of an association.

Note: This navigation guide provides information on services that are available in each province/territory that are both publicly (government) and privately owned and operated.  They are generally described as “home and community care” for in home services, and “long-term facilities-based care”, for 24 hour, 7 day a week professional care. Each province and territory provides a different level of coverage or funding for these services. Please check with your province or territory to determine your funding eligibility.