### Planning for Later Life Transitions

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- Categories
- Caregiving

- Family Caregiver
- Home & Community Care

- Home Modifications
- Transportation Services
- Food and Nutrition
- Health & Wellness
- Legal and Financial
- End Of Life Planning

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## Family Caregiver

Caregiving has now become diverse both in scope and complexity. The community support available to caregiver and care recipients has changed to meet the growing needs....
Home and Community Care Support Services now offers various services to the caregiver and the aging individual.
The family caregivers may be eligible to claim tax credits under the Disability Tax Credit, the Medical Expense Tax Credit and the Canada Caregiver Credit (CCC).
For aging seniors, the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit is available to help offset the medical expenses, including expenses that support aging at home.
The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) provides the required forms for tax credits. Call CRA at 1-800-959-8281 for enquiries and assistance.
Employee benefits such as Family medical leave or Family caregiver leave are available for eligible caregivers. Contact the Employment Standards Information Centre at 1-800-531-5551 for assistance.

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## Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS)

Home and community care support services (formerly LHIN) provide a variety of programs or services for elderly people through a network of organizations covering the province....
When contacted, HCCSS sends a care coordinator to assess the individual’s needs and eligibility and then develop the appropriate care plan. Click to find the HCCSS near you.
HCCSS services include,
recommending housing options such as long-term care homes and retirement homes;
Home care services including nursing care, physiotherapy, social work, speech therapy and home care supplies;
Personal support services such as assistance with washing, bathing, dressing, eating and getting to appointments;
Homemaking services such as help with household activities like laundry, shopping, banking and preparing meals;
Community support services such as adult day programs, assisted living services, friendly visits and errands.
In Ontario, some provincially-run organizations offer additional services like respite care and professional help for caregivers, Meals on Wheels (see Food and Nutrition), Seniors Active Living Centre programs, senior companionship and friendly voice for older adults.
The Friendly calls program connects adults with Red Cross volunteers who provide social interaction and emotional support.

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## Home Modifications

Housing needs can change over time. Sometimes small and inexpensive modifications can make the home safe to live in and allow a person to remain independent....
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has several online publications to help seniors with the required home adaptations/renovations to make a home more accessible and reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
Several government financial assistance programs are available to help eligible seniors. See Legal and Financial section.

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## Transportation Services

There may come a time when seniors have to limit their driving or stop driving altogether. There are many alternatives to driving:...
- Walking
- Public transport like busses and taxis
- Friends or family members who pick up and drop off
- Volunteer driver services such as those offered by the Canadian Red Cross and Seniors Active Living Centre in certain areas.
- Specialized transit service such as Wheel-Trans
More information about transportation services in our area can be obtained by visiting the following websites:
Ride Connect
Toronto Ride
iRidePlus

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## Food and Nutrition

Eat well to live well.
Health Connect program connects an individual with a registered dietitian who can provide free advice on food and healthy eating. Call 1-866-797-0007....
The Canada Food Guide helps with making the right food choices to stay fit and healthy. The Dietitians Association offers a variety of resources to learn about nutrition or find a dietitian close by.
As seniors age, they find it difficult to cook their own meals. Several organisations offer a variety of meal preparation options including prepared meal delivery and in-home cooking.
Meals on Wheels delivers nutritious and affordable meals to a variety of groups including seniors.
Heart to Home delivers nutritious meals for seniors.

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## Health and Wellness

Aging well means staying healthy. By knowing the options and services available, an individual could work towards optimal aging....
The Ministry of Health helps with navigating Ontario’s health care system and connecting with the required programs and services.
Health Connect Ontario is a free service operating 24 hours, 7 days a week. A registered nurse responds to the call and provides confidential health advice and general health information. The nurse may advice, self-care or recommend a visit to the doctor or refer to a community resource nearest to the caller. Direct TTY number is available for those with hearing and speech difficulties. Call 1-866-797-0007.
Ambulance services or Pre-hospital care website gives information on charges for ambulance service. If the patient meets the exemption criteria, ambulance service is free.
Ontario’s specialized geriatric services network operates in collaboration with primary care physicians and community health professionals to solve the needs of older adults living with chronic health conditions. The website provides information about the services offered.
The Assistive Devices Program provides funding assistance for up to 75% of the cost of personalized assistive devices such as wheel chairs, respiratory devices, visual aids and custom fabricated orthotic devices. For equipment such as hearing aids, the program contributes a fixed amount. The Ministry of Health website gives additional information or, call 1-800-268-6021.
Hearing Care Counselling Program is designed for seniors. Counselors provide home visits and offer information on communication devices.
Center for Addiction and Mental Health(CAMH) Geriatric Inpatient Services specializes in various subtypes of dementia and also psychiatric conditions which arise from medical conditions, substances or medications. CAMH Geriatric Services can be contacted at (416) 535-8501.
Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Ontario is a non-profit charitable organization providing support for people living with mental illness and their families. Visit CMHA in local area or call1-800-875-6213 for assistance.
MedicAlert Safe & Found provides support for people with dementia and their families.
Fall prevention:
Falls are leading cause of injury among seniors. Many falls are preventable by exercising, taking a bone density test, knowing the medications to be taken and reducing home hazards. Visit Canada Health Agency website for safe living guide and how to prevent falls.

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## Legal and Financial

Financial
There are many reasons to file a personal tax return every year even if there is no income to report. If an individual ...needs help to complete their income tax return, the Community Volunteer Income Tax program provides free help for simple tax situations.
The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency puts forth publications with lots of information on Income Tax. Some of the publications that may be helpful are: Canadian Residents Going Down South, When you Retire, and, Paying Income Tax in instalments.
Provincial tax credits and benefits are available to eligible seniors to defray living costs. They include senior homeowners’ property tax grant, seniors home safety tax credit, senior care home tax credit for wheelchairs, hospital beds and dental-vision-hearing care.
Seniors with disabilities may be eligible for the Property tax relief credit.
Also, the Home and Vehicle Modification Program, run by the Ontario March of Dimes, provides funding for home and vehicle modifications so that people with mobility restrictions can live safely and participate in their communities.
A good financial plan goes a long way in making life easy. The elder planning counsellors at FP Canada specialize in working with seniors. Access their website for information or call 416-593-8587.
Legal
The Law Society of Ontario provides referral service to connect an individual to a lawyer.
The Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee delivers service that safeguards the legal, personal and financial interests of private individuals and estates. Contact 1-800-366-0335.

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## Planning for End-of-life

Planning the end-of-life arrangements ahead of time could make the stressful phase a little easier to navigate.
Hospices like the Dorothy Ley Hospice offer ...programs and services to meet the needs of individuals with terminal illness and their caregivers or family members. Bereavement care, Spiritual care, Wellness service, Residential care, Care coordination are some of the services offered. Their website provides the details.
Funerals
Ontario law protects consumers making final arrangements. A funeral/burial/cemetery operator must give current information before a contract is negotiated. By law, a person has 30 days to cancel a contract for such services and get a full refund for any service not yet provided. Also, a contract written on or after July, 1, 2022 is guaranteed and the provider must supply everything agreed to in the contract without additional charges even if prices have gone up.
For information click on Ontario consumer protection website or Bereavement Authority of Ontario website or call 1-800-889-9768.
Funeral Centres like The Simple Alternative Funeral Centre and the Mount Pleasant Group of Cemeteries serve all cultures and offer several choices.
Wills and Estates
The executor of an estate has several responsibilities such as completing the income tax form, contacting the deceased individual’s financial institutions to cancel cards, contacting government agencies regarding license, SIN, passports and citizenship card, just to name a few. Click here for Estate Administration.
To get a copy of an Ontario Death Certificate online, click here.

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