Understanding Home Care in Ontario

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Coordinated support for home care 

Many people are not aware of the options available to them when their health care needs or circumstances change, and it becomes difficult to manage on their own.  

If you are caring for someone who may need home care—whether they need assistance getting back on track after a hospital stay, illness or injury, or if they have a complex or chronic health condition—learn more about the options available through Ontario Health atHome. 

Ontario Health atHome supports individuals across the province with assessing patient care needs, coordinating in-home and community-based care, providing access and referrals to community services, and managing Ontario’s long-term care home placement process. They help patients, families, and caregivers when they need services, support, and guidance to: 

• Remain safely at home with the support of care professionals 

• Return home from hospital and recover at home 

• Find community services that support healthy, independent living 

• Transition to long-term care or supportive housing 

Through the Ontario Health atHome intake and assessment process, you’ll find out if the services can be covered by OHIP.  

How caregivers can connect with Ontario Health atHome

Call 1‑833‑515‑1234 from anywhere in Ontario-seven (7) days a week, 365 days a year. If you are calling from outside Ontario, please contact Ontario Health atHome using the local contact information for the area where the person you support resides. You can find the appropriate toll‑free number by using the Postal Code lookup tool on the Ontario Health atHome website: https://ontariohealthathome.ca/find-my-local-office/

You can either call as a caregiver on behalf of someone else who needs support, or to access services for yourself.

Who is eligible?

Ontario residents with a valid Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card are eligible to receive an assessment completed by a care coordinator to further determine eligibility and access a wide-range of home and community care supports. Depending on the services or supports that best fit individual patient needs, there are some additional eligibility requirements depending on the program, which Ontario Health atHome staff will discuss in detail with you.

For your call, be prepared with:

• A valid OHIP card. If you’re a caregiver and you don’t have OHIP, you can still reach out to Ontario Health atHome for support coordinating care, as long as the person receiving care (i.e. the person you support) is based in Ontario and has OHIP.
• If you are not eligible for OHatHome home and community care services, the care coordinator will explain why and will help you find alternatives to meet your needs. They will connect you with community services that are right for you, such as meal services, friendly visiting and adult day programs.
• If you do not qualify for government‑funded home care, you may still access private home care services or other community supports, but these may come with fees.
• Consent from the person you’re supporting. Have a conversation with the person you support about the intake and the types of services you are hoping to access for them, to ensure they agree.
• A clear summary of the care needs for the person you’re supporting. This can include personal support worker services (bathroom needs, wound care, infusions, respite), nursing, post-surgery needs, therapy or rehabilitation, and more.

Community Engagement at Ontario Health atHome

Involving those with lived experience brings unique insight, helps guide Ontario Health atHome in the development of patient-centred programs, services and policies, and further ensures Ontario Health atHome’s services are relevant, beneficial, reflective and supportive of patient needs, priorities and values. 

Learn more about Community Engagement and how to become an advisor at Ontario Health atHome