Key takeaways
- Ontario Health atHome coordinates publicly funded home and community care across the province.
- Anyone can make a referral, including you. Call 310-2222 (no area code).
- A care coordinator assesses needs and decides which services and how many hours are funded.
- Private home care is paid by the family. You choose the hours, and changes can usually happen faster.
- Most families who need more than a few hours a week end up using both.
1. What is Ontario Health atHome?
Ontario Health atHome is the provincial organization that coordinates publicly funded home and community care in Ontario. It replaced the regional Home and Community Care Support Services organizations, so you may still hear older names from friends or hospital staff.
Depending on an assessment of need, publicly funded care can include:
- Care coordination and planning
- Nursing care at home or in a community clinic
- Personal support with bathing, dressing and other daily activities
- Physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech-language therapy
- Social work, palliative care and some medical supplies
- Help applying for a long-term care home
2. How do you get publicly funded home care?
- Make a referralYour doctor, the hospital team, a family member or you can refer. Call 310-2222 (no area code).
- Have an assessmentA care coordinator looks at health, safety at home, daily needs and the support family can give.
- Get a care planIf eligible, you are told which services are approved, how often and who will provide them.
- Review it as needs changeCall your care coordinator if things get harder, for example after a fall or a hospital stay.
If your parent is in hospital, ask the team for a referral before discharge. Our hospital discharge checklist lists the other questions to ask.
3. What does private home care add?
Private home care is arranged directly with an agency and paid for by the family, sometimes with help from insurance or tax credits. Families usually turn to private care for:
- More hours, such as longer daytime visits, evenings, weekends or 24-hour care.
- Company and routine, not just tasks. Companionship care is rarely covered by public funding.
- A faster start after a hospital stay or a sudden change.
- More say in the caregiver, including language and culture. Our caregivers speak English, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.
- Respite so a spouse or adult child can rest. See respite care.
4. Ontario Health atHome and private care side by side
| Ontario Health atHome | Private agency | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | No cost for approved services | Paid by the family; ask for a written quote |
| How to start | Referral, or call 310-2222 | Call the agency directly |
| Hours | Based on assessed need, often limited | As many as you choose, above a minimum visit |
| Services | Nursing, personal support, therapy, care coordination | Personal care, companionship, respite, overnight and 24-hour care |
| Choice of caregiver | Assigned by the service provider | More say in matching, language and schedule |
| Changes | Through your care coordinator | Directly with the agency |
For a closer look at what drives private costs, read what affects the cost of home care in Ontario.
5. How to use public and private care together
- Share the care plan. Give the private agency a copy of the funded plan so visits don't overlap.
- Fill the gaps, not the same hours. For example, a funded morning bath visit plus a private 4-hour afternoon visit for lunch, an outing and company.
- Keep one communication log. A notebook on the kitchen counter where every caregiver writes what happened helps everyone, including the family doctor.
- Tell your care coordinator about private care. It helps them understand the full picture when they review the plan.
6. How Artistic Home Care fits in
We are a private agency, and we often work alongside publicly funded care. After a free, no-obligation in-home consult, our registered nurse assesses needs and builds a plan around the services you already have. Visits start at 4 hours and we are available 24/7.
We provide senior home care, PSW services and post-hospital care across Toronto, Etobicoke and the wider GTA. Book a free consult or call 437-985-6225.
Frequently asked questions
Does Ontario Health atHome cost anything?
No. Services approved by Ontario Health atHome are publicly funded. If you want more hours or services that aren't covered, you can arrange private care on top.
Can I choose my caregiver through Ontario Health atHome?
Caregivers are assigned by the service provider. If something isn't working, raise it with your care coordinator. With private care you usually have more say in who visits and when.
How long does it take to get publicly funded home care?
It depends on the assessment and on availability where you live. If a hospital discharge is coming, ask for a referral as early as possible.
Can a private agency apply for public home care for me?
The referral goes through Ontario Health atHome, but anyone can call, including you. We are happy to explain the steps during your consult.
Cover photo: Age Cymru on Unsplash
Published 19 October 2026 · Last updated 19 October 2026
