For home and community care services that the Government of Ontario pays for, Ontario Health atHome decides what services people need and can get. They work with Ontario Health Teams and health service providers. 

They also provide placement services for long-term care homes. 

Ontario Health atHome used to be called Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs). 

The Clinique Juridique Francophone d’Ottawa gives free legal advice in French to older adults living in Ottawa. They give legal advice in these areas: 

• consent and capacity 
• procedures when being discharged from hospital 
• rights in long-term care homes 
• Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement 
  

If you need help, you can book an appointment online or call 613-744-2892, extension 2. 

Advocacy North for Elders and Seniors is a program run by community legal clinics in Northern Ontario. They offer legal help and advice to elders and seniors who have low incomes and are dealing with legal issues related to their age.  

They offer free and confidential help and advice in these areas: 

• retirement homes and long-term care homes 
• consent and capacity 
• wills and powers of attorney  
• elder abuse  
• consumer rights including scams 

There are Home and Community Care Support Services organizations across Ontario that decide who receives home and community care services. They decide the level of care people need and how long they’ll get that care. They also provide placement services for long-term care homes.

They were previously called Local Health Integration Networks (LHINs).

The Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority is an independent, self-funded, not-for-profit organization. It’s mandated by the government to protect and ensure the safety and well-being of people living in Ontario’s retirement homes.

The Government of Ontario has a Long-Term Care Family Support and Action Line for making complaints about long-term care homes.  

An official from the Ministry of Long-Term Care will look into your complaint. This may include an inspection of the home. 

Hours of operation: 8:30  a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week 

If you live in the Ottawa or Champlain region and have a disability, ABLE2’s Reach Legal Referral Services may be able to help. They can refer you to a lawyer or paralegal for up to 3 hours of free legal advice in any area of law. But they cannot help with urgent legal issues.

If ABLE2 cannot help, they may refer you to community resources.

Book a meeting online, or call 613-761-9522 extension 452 or 453. You can also email reachlegalreferral@able2.org.