The True Cost of Home Care in Ontario: What Families Need to Know

When a family member needs extra help at home, the first instinct is usually to focus on finding the right care. The cost question often comes second. But for most families, the cost of home care in Ontario is much higher than they expect, and the available support much more limited.

Understanding what you're actually dealing with makes it easier to plan, and to explore every option available to you.

What home care typically costs

Private home care in Ontario is billed by the hour. Rates vary depending on the level of care, but they add up quickly:

• Personal support workers (PSWs) who help with bathing, dressing, and daily routines are one of the most common forms of home care.
• Registered nurses and registered practical nurses cost more per hour and are needed for medical care like wound management, medications, or post-surgery recovery.
• Specialized care, such as dementia support or palliative care, often carries a higher rate and may require multiple shifts or overnight coverage.

Even a modest number of hours per week can cost thousands of dollars per month. For families managing care over months or years, that cost becomes significant.

What the government covers

Ontario's publicly funded home care program is managed through Home and Community Care Support Services. It provides some coverage for nursing visits, personal support, and therapy services, but access is limited by wait times, eligibility, and the number of hours approved.

For many families, government-funded care fills part of the need but not all of it. The gap, whether it's a few hours a week or full-time support, typically falls to the family to cover privately.

Where families are finding the money

Without a plan, most families default to one of these options:

• Drawing down savings or registered accounts
• Using a line of credit or credit card
• Reducing the hours of care to what they can afford
• Relying on family members to provide unpaid care

Each of these comes with trade-offs. Pulling from savings affects long-term security. High-interest borrowing adds a cost on top of the care itself. Reducing hours may not meet the person's actual needs. And relying on family can be physically and emotionally exhausting.

An option worth knowing about

For Ontario homeowners, there's another path worth looking at: accessing the equity in your home through your mortgage. This is a legitimate mortgage tool that some families use to cover ongoing care costs, without selling the home, without high-interest debt, and without depleting long-term savings.

It's not the right fit for every situation. But for families who own their home and have built up equity over the years, it's worth a conversation.

Reach out to Ken Tucker to find out what's available to your family. With 25 years of experience helping Ontario homeowners, Ken can walk you through the options in plain language and help you figure out what makes sense for your situation.

Book a free call here or call 416-988-5626.