Islington Vertical VillageFamily Caregiver
Caregiving has now become diverse both in scope and complexity. The community support available to caregivers 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). They may be entitled to
Compassionate Care Benefits as well.
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.
Home and Community Care Support Services (HCCSS)
Home and community care support services (formerly LHINs) 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 develop the appropriate care plan. Click to find the HCCSS near you.
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 including adult day programs, assisted living services, friendly visits and errands.
Additional information can be found in Home care website
In Ontario, some provincially-run organizations offer additional services like respite care and professional help for caregivers, senior companionship or a
friendly voice for older adults
Friendly calls program with Red Cross volunteers who provide social interaction and emotional support Meals on Wheels (see Food and Nutrition) Seniors Active Living Centre programs.
Housing
Housing needs can change overtime. 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 make the required home adaptations and renovations that can make a home more accessibleand also reduce the risk of falls and injuries.
Several government financial assistance programs are available to help eligible seniors. See Finance section.
Adult lifestyle communities, life lease housing, retirement homes, supportive housing, short-stay accommodation are alternate housing options to consider. Professionals like a social worker in a geriatric center or a family counsel group, a community health nurse or a care coordinator at HCCSS can help with the best housing option for a senior.
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 general transportation services in a specific area can be obtained by visiting the 211 website.
Food and Nutrition
Eat well to live well.
Health Connect program connects an individual with a registered dietitian who can provide free advice on fo9d 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.
Renovate Home Care delivers nutritious prepared meals, assists clients in preparing meals at home if they prefer and helps with light clean up after meals.
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 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.
Patient Ombudsman investigates and helps to resolve complaints from patients and caregivers concerning hospitals, long-term care homes and home services.
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 and custom orthotic devices. Users of this device for 6 months or longer, can apply for assistance, 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.
Ambulance servicesAmbulance services or Pre-hospital care website gives information on charges for ambulance service. If the patient meets the exemption criteria, ambulance service is free. Check Ambulance Services Billing website.
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.
Mental health and addictions for seniors:
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. The service focuses on developing plans tailored to the goals of the individual clients. CAMH Geriatric Services can be contacted at (416) 535-8501. The Understanding Mental Health and Well-being in Later Life team at CAMH helps older adults navigate mental health concerns such as grief and social isolation.
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. For suicide related concerns or immediate crisis help, call or text Canada Suicide Prevention Helpline 1-833-456-4566 (24/7).
ConnexOntario provides free and confidential health services information for people experiencing problems with alcohol and drugs and mental illness by connecting them with services in the area. ConnexOntario staff provide support via phone, live web chat and email.
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.
Hearing Care Counselling Program is designed for seniors. Counselors provide home visits and offer information on communication devices.
MedicAlert Safe & Found provides support for people with dementia and their families.
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, public transit tax credit, senior care home tax credit for attendant care, 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.
The medical expense tax credit is a federal tax credit for eligible medical expenses including construction and renovation of ramps or wide doorways at home. See the CRA's income tax folio S1-F1-C1, medical expense tax credit.
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.
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 on 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.
Bereaved Families of Ontario is an organization dedicated to bereavement support through self help and help from peers. It operates province wide. To find a support program: click Bereaved Families of Ontario website
Wills and Estates:
The executor of an estate has several responsibilities such as completing the income tax form, contacting the deceased individual’s banks and other financial institutions to cancel cards, determining eligibility of benefits or canceling OAS, GIS and other benefits, contacting government agencies regarding license, SIN, passports and citizenship card, informing clubs, professional associations and doctors of the status. Click here for Estate Administration.
Click
here to get a copy of an Ontario Death Certificate online