Home, Community and Long-Term Care
In Canada, provinces and territories are responsible for organizing, managing, and delivering health services, including home and community care. Home and community care are health and social services provided in a person's home or community. Many people prefer to receive services at home or in a community setting for comfort.
Home and community care helps people stay independent, receive treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care, or other care at home, and maintain or improve health and quality of life. Services may include nursing, social work, homemaking, personal care (bathing, dressing, feeding), family medicine, respite services, dietitian services, and therapies (physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology). Other community services include friendly visitor programs, support for unpaid caregivers, meal delivery, and day programs for dementia.
Providers include non-regulated workers (health care aides, home support workers, personal support workers) and regulated professionals (nurses, social workers). Some services may not be covered by provincial/territorial health insurance; clients may pay out-of-pocket or through private insurance. Provinces may provide supplemental coverage for seniors, children, and social assistance recipients.
Long-term care is for those needing 24/7 supervised care. It includes daily services (meals, laundry, recreation, housekeeping), personal care, and health/social services. Facilities include long-term care homes (nursing homes), retirement homes, and residential facilities for intellectual/developmental disabilities, mental health, or substance use disorders. Some services may not be covered; clients or families may pay privately.
The federal government supports home and long-term care for eligible veterans, federal inmates, Canadian Forces members, and First Nations on reserve or in Inuit communities.
Health Canada works with provinces/territories to improve access, including bilateral agreements and workforce support.
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