• Housing
• Housing for Seniors
• Housing Options for Seniors

What help can seniors get to continue living at home?

If you want to live in your own home, you can get some health services in your home. You can also get financial help to make your home safe for you.

You may qualify for these services and financial programs, even if you are living with family.

Health Services in Your Home

A Home and Community Care Support Services can arrange for health professionals to come to your home. They can give you:

• Health services - For example, help with your medication or physiotherapy exercises
• Personal care services - For example, help getting dressed or bathing

Depending on what kind of health service you need, you might need a referral from a doctor. You need to have the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) or the Interim Federal Health (IFH) Program. If you have applied for OHIP but have not received your Health (OHIP) Card yet, you may be eligible. Call your local Home and Community Care Support Services for more information.

For information or to request service, call your local Home and Community Care Support Services.

Financial Help for Home Adaptations

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has a list of affordable housing programs in Ontario. Some of these programs help pay for small changes to your home and for equipment to make your home safe. For example, you may want to get handrails for your stairs or bathtub.

For more information and to apply for this program, contact the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation at 1-800-668-2642.

If you are doing renovations to make your home more accessible, you may want to review this housing guide There are resources to suggest ways to make your home more accessible and safe for seniors.

For More Information

• A Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors in Ontario - Information about programs and services for seniors in Ontario. You can get it in many languages.
• Seniors' Info - This website has information and links for seniors in Ontario.
• Elder Abuse - Clear language publications on legal topics affecting seniors from Steps to Justice.
• Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE) - ACE is a community-based legal clinic that provides legal services to low-income seniors. Their website has information about health care and home care for seniors, including publications and helpful links.