1. Learn about home and community care services

Home and community care services are health-care services you get in your home or from community organizations.

For home and community care services that the Government of Ontario pays for, Ontario Health atHome decides what services you need and can get.

You may get your services from one or more providers:

• Ontario Health Teams (OHT): These are health-care providers in a community that work together to give services, such as doctors and home and community care providers.
• health service providers (HSP): These organizations have agreements with Ontario Health atHome to give services.

Role of your care coordinator

A care coordinator from the Ontario Health atHome office in your area is your main contact. They make your care plan and arrange for the home and community care services that you need.

Your care coordinator gives you a written copy of your care plan. It should tell you which providers will give you care.

You could work with several different providers. For example, you might get help with bathing from a home care agency, physical therapy from a physiotherapist, and meals from Meals on Wheels.

Types of services

Examples of some home and community care services that you might get are:

• professional services, such as nursing, physiotherapy, or social work
• help with daily activities, such as taking a bath, eating, or getting dressed
• homemaking services, such as house cleaning, laundry, banking, shopping, or preparing meals
• community support services, including meal services like Meals on Wheels, day programs, foot care, services for people who are deaf or blind, or palliative care services that you need at the end of your life