Home, Community and Residential Care for Seniors

In the later stage of our lives, most of us will need some help to live independently at home, in a senior residence, or in a long-term care facility. But do you know where to find this kind of information or how to proceed? If not, here is information for you or your loved ones.

The first point of contact for information like this is your local Community Care Access Centre (CCAC).

CCACs were established and are funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Your local CCAC can help you with defining your needs and situation, determing your eligibility for government-funded services, locating providers and applying for care. They can also provide information about the availablity of finanical subsidies for particular service options.

When you contact your local CCAC, a case manager (also called care coordinator) will be assigned to you. Your case manager is the one who works on your behalf and makes sure you get the care and service you need. Now you are on your way.

Before you contact your local CCAC, you might want to have an overview on what Home, Community and Residential Care services are available in your community.

There are two types of care for seniors in Ontario:

Home and Community Support Services can help you manage your own care while living at home. There are four main categories of these services:
- Visiting health professional services
- Personal care and support
- Homemaking
- Community support services
Residential Care Services provide a place for seniors to live, and offer different types and levels of support. There are three main types of residential care in Ontario:
- Supportive living
- Retirement homes
- Long-term care home