Home care access, drug benefit programs, home modification grants, hospital discharge support, and seniors programs — province and territory by province and territory. Updated May 2026.
| Province/Territory | Home Care Entry Point | Key Number | Assessment Tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC | Regional Health Authorities via HealthLink BC | 811 | interRAI HC |
| AB | Alberta Health Services Continuing Care | 811 (Health Link) | interRAI |
| SK | Saskatchewan Health Authority | 811 (HealthLine) | MDS-Home Care |
| MB | Winnipeg RHA / Regional Health Authorities | 204-788-8330 (Winnipeg) | interRAI HC |
| ON | Ontario Health at Home | 310-2222 (no area code) | interRAI / RAI-HC |
| QC | CLSC (via CISSS/CIUSSS) — SAPA program | 811 option 3 | ISO-SMAF (unique to QC) |
| NB | Extra-Mural Program (health) + Dept. of Social Development (personal care) | 1-844-982-7367 / 1-833-733-7835 | Unconfirmed |
| NS | Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care | 1-800-225-7225 | New digital system (2025) |
| PEI | Health PEI Home Care Program | 1-800-371-8245 | interRAI HC |
| NL | NL Health Services (NLHS) regional offices | 1-877-729-7888 | Unconfirmed |
| YK | Yukon Home Care Program | 1-877-667-5774 | In development |
| NWT | NWT Health & Social Services / NTHSSA | 1-800-661-0878 (Seniors Society) | interRAI (implementing) |
| NU | Territorial Home and Continuing Care Program | 867-975-5941 | Level 2/3 clinical assessment |
Who coordinates: One of five Regional Health Authorities (Fraser Health, Interior Health, Island Health, Northern Health, Vancouver Coastal Health).
How to access: Self-referral — no physician referral required. Call 811 (HealthLink BC) 24/7 and ask to be connected to Home and Community Care.
Assessment tool: interRAI Contact Assessment (initial screen) + interRAI Home Care (ongoing).
Appeal process: Request review through the health authority's Patient Care Quality Office. Further escalation: BC Office of the Ombudsperson. Office of the Seniors Advocate BC: 1-877-952-3181.
Program: BC PharmaCare — Fair PharmaCare (Plan Z).
How it works: Income-based annual deductible for all residents. After deductible, PharmaCare covers 70% of eligible costs up to a family maximum, then 100%. Seniors born 1939 or earlier receive enhanced subsidies.
PharmaNet: All BC prescriptions are linked — pharmacists can check drug interactions province-wide.
Better at Home (United Way BC, provincially funded): Meal support, light housekeeping, transportation, friendly visiting, social meals. Operates in 97 communities.
TAPS (Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors): Nutritious group meals and socialization.
Free dietitian advice: Call 811 to speak with a registered dietitian at no cost.
BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA) — BC Housing program.
Contact: BC Housing — bchousing.org
Better at Home: Friendly visiting and social meals components.
Social Prescribing Program (United Way BC): Connects seniors to walking groups, art classes, volunteer programs.
211: Available in BC — by phone, text, or chat, 24/7.
Who coordinates: Alberta Health Services (AHS) Continuing Care division. New Alberta Continuing Care Act in effect as of April 2024.
How to access: Self-referral — no physician referral required. Call 811 (Health Link) 24/7. An AHS Case Manager is assigned and conducts an in-home assessment.
Assessment tool: interRAI assessment.
Alberta Supports Contact Centre: 1-877-644-9992 for information about all provincial seniors programs.
Program: Alberta Drug Benefit List — seniors 65+ covered provincially.
Co-pay: 30% of drug cost, up to a maximum of $25 per prescription.
Alberta Aids to Daily Living (AADL): Covers medical equipment and supplies for eligible Albertans.
Verify current co-pay amounts with Alberta Health.
Meals on Wheels: Calgary Meals on Wheels (1M+ meals/year); Edmonton-area equivalents. Locally operated by individual societies — not a single provincial program.
Special Needs Assistance for Seniors: Can fund meal programs in limited circumstances through the Alberta Seniors Benefit program.
Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program (SHARP)
Contact: Alberta Supports: 1-877-644-9992
Local seniors centres operated municipally or by non-profits. Ministry of Assisted Living and Social Services funds community programs.
211: Available in Alberta.
Who coordinates: Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) — a single provincial health authority since 2017.
How to access: Self-referral, physician, or hospital referral. Call 811 (HealthLine) 24/7.
Assessment tool: MDS-Home Care (Minimum Data Set for Home Care), with other interRAI instruments also in use per the SHA Home Care Policy Manual (January 2025).
Seniors House Call Program: 1-855-275-1197
Program: Saskatchewan Seniors' Drug Plan.
Eligibility: SK residents 65+, net income $79,487 or less (2026 coverage year).
Co-pay: $25 flat fee per eligible prescription — no annual deductible.
Coverage is automatic; renewal is annual.
Meals on Wheels: Saskatoon Meals on Wheels (hot lunches Mon–Fri); Regina programs. Locally operated.
Home care policy includes volunteer meal service as a component of SHA home care services.
Home Repair Program — Adaptation for Independence (Saskatchewan Housing Corporation)
Emergency Repair Program also available for safety-critical repairs.
Local senior centres operated by municipalities and non-profits. No single provincial brand.
211: Available in Saskatchewan.
Who coordinates: Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) for Winnipeg; regional health authorities for rural Manitoba. Manitoba has Canada's oldest universal, province-wide home care system.
How to access: Self-referral, physician, or hospital referral. WRHA Intake: 204-788-8330. Rural areas: contact your regional health authority.
Assessment tool: interRAI Home Care.
Program: Manitoba Pharmacare Program — NOT age-based; income-based deductible for all Manitoba residents.
After the income-based annual deductible is met, Pharmacare covers 100% of eligible drug costs. Enhanced Pharmacare implemented April 2025.
Verify current deductible calculation with Manitoba Health.
Meals on Wheels Winnipeg — delivers 600–800 meals daily. WRHA provides the nutritious meals. Phone: 204-956-7711. Regional programs exist throughout Manitoba.
Safe and Healthy Home for Seniors Program (administered by March of Dimes Canada)
Active Living Centres / Senior Centres supported by WRHA and Manitoba Association of Senior Communities. Examples: Good Neighbours Active Living Centre, Elmwood East Kildonan Active Living Centre, Pembina Active Living (55+).
Active Aging in Manitoba (AAIM): Province-wide non-profit promoting active lifestyles.
211: Available in Manitoba.
Who coordinates: Ontario Health at Home (created June 2024, replacing the 14 regional LHINs/Home and Community Care Support Services).
How to access: Self-referral, physician, or hospital referral. Call 310-2222 (no area code required, 365 days/year).
Assessment tools: interRAI Contact Assessment (initial screen) + RAI-HC (ongoing complex clients).
Appeal process: Request a formal review through Ontario Health at Home. If unresolved, escalate to the Health Services Appeal and Review Board (HSARB).
Program: Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) — seniors 65+ automatically eligible.
Co-pay: $2 per prescription (income assistance recipients) or $6.11 per prescription (standard). Annual deductible may apply for higher-income seniors.
Managed through your pharmacist — no separate application required at age 65.
Meals on Wheels: Delivered by local non-profits; no single provincial program. Contact 211 or your local Ontario Health at Home coordinator to find your local program.
OHIP-covered dietitians: Available through community health centres and some family health teams — ask your doctor for a referral.
Ontario Renovates (various municipal delivery — contact your local municipality or Service Ontario).
CMHC programs: Federal programs available through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation for eligible homeowners.
Assistive Devices Program (ADP): Covers up to 75% of costs for mobility aids and home equipment.
Seniors Active Living Centres (provincially funded through the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility) — search by postal code at ontario.ca/seniors.
Friendly Visiting programs: Available through many local agencies; ask Ontario Health at Home for referrals.
211 Ontario: Available 24/7 by phone, text, and online.
Who coordinates: Your local CLSC (Centre local de services communautaires) within your CISSS or CIUSSS territory. 22 integrated health authorities across Quebec.
Program name: SAPA — Programme de soutien à l'autonomie des personnes âgées (Support for the Autonomy of Seniors).
How to access: Call your local CLSC Guichet d'accès, or call 811 (option 3) to find your CLSC.
Assessment tool: ISO-SMAF (29-item tool generating 14 care profiles) — unique to Quebec, different from interRAI used in other provinces.
Program: RAMQ — Régime général d'assurance médicaments. All Quebec residents without private drug insurance must join; at 65, everyone is automatically enrolled.
Co-pay (2025–2026): Monthly deductible of $22; 30% co-insurance; monthly maximum $102.64.
Free for low-income seniors: Those receiving 94%+ of maximum GIS are covered with no premium, no deductible.
RAMQ: 1-800-561-9749
Popote Roulante — Quebec's term for Meals on Wheels, delivered by local community organizations, often connected to CLSCs.
CLSCs can refer to local meal delivery programs as part of home support services.
Dietitians are part of the CLSC interdisciplinary team — effectively publicly accessible through SAPA services.
Contact the Société d'habitation du Québec (SHQ) for current housing adaptation programs. Quebec has provincial housing renewal programs but the specifically named seniors home modification grant should be verified directly with SHQ.
Verify current program name and amounts with SHQ: habitationquebec.qc.ca
Tel-Aînés: Free phone listening line for seniors 60+, to break isolation. 1-833-326-8837, 7 days/week, 9am–9pm.
FADOQ: Canada's largest seniors organization, based in Quebec — clubs and services for adults 50+. fadoq.ca
Senior Wellness Centres: 43 existing + 32 new in underserved regions.
L'Appui pour les proches aidants (caregiver support): 1-855-852-7784
211: Available in most of Quebec.
Two-track system:
Track 1 — Home Health Services: Extra-Mural Program (Medavie Health Services NB) — professional nursing, therapy, 24/7 care. Known as the "hospital without walls." 1-844-982-7367 — self-referral accepted, contact within 2 business days.
Track 2 — Home Support: Department of Social Development — personal care and daily living. 1-833-733-7835
Note: 2024 data showed average 67-day wait for home support assessment. Verify current wait times.
Three options for seniors 65+:
NB mails application packages 60 days before your 65th birthday.
Meals on Wheels Greater NB (mowgnb.org) — delivered approximately 226,000–232,000 meals province-wide in 2024; Fredericton alone delivered nearly 100,000 meals. Friendly Visitor Program also offered.
Community Connectors Program: MOW volunteers trained to identify isolated seniors and connect them to community resources via 211.
Homeowner Repair Program (NB Department of Social Development / Housing)
Age-Friendly Active Communities NB initiative; local seniors centres and municipalities. Community Connectors pilot program.
211: Available in New Brunswick.
Who coordinates: Nova Scotia Health (NSH) Continuing Care. Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care has oversight.
How to access: Self-referral, physician, or hospital referral. Single province-wide number: 1-800-225-7225.
Notable programs: Welcome Home Program (1 week dedicated Home Aid support post-discharge); CAPABLE Program (nurse + OT + handyperson for aging-in-place); West Bedford Transitional Health Centre (68-bed bridge for patients before returning home).
Program: Nova Scotia Seniors' Pharmacare Program.
Eligibility: NS residents 65+, valid NS Health Card, no other drug coverage.
Co-pay: 30% of prescription cost; annual maximum co-pay of $382.
Premium: Income-based — no premium if single income below $18,000; reduced if $18,000–$24,000.
Application packages mailed ~3 months before 65th birthday. Phone: 1-800-544-6191
VON (Victorian Order of Nurses) Canada delivers Meals on Wheels across Nova Scotia — approximately 60,000 meals/month, primarily frozen meals, in partnership with NSH Continuing Care.
Seniors Care Grant: Annual grant up to $750 for low-income seniors (income threshold $45,100 in 2024–25) — can cover grocery delivery and meal preparation.
Housing Repair and Accessibility Program: Up to $18,000 for accessibility adaptations; additional $20,000 repayable loan for larger projects.
Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence (HASI): Permanent adaptations for daily activity for low-income seniors.
Personal Alert Service Program: Up to $480/year for low-income seniors living alone who have experienced falls — reimburses personal alert device costs.
Contact: 1-844-424-5110
Local seniors centres and non-profits. Aging Well Nova Scotia supports senior-serving organizations with micro-grants.
211: Available in Nova Scotia.
Who coordinates: Health PEI — the single provincial health authority.
How to access: Self-referral, family member, care provider, or family doctor. Five offices (Souris, Montague, Charlottetown, Summerside, O'Leary). Call: 1-800-371-8245.
Assessment tool: interRAI HC (implementing fully; interRAI Contact Assessment replacing intake screen as of 2024–25).
Seniors Independence Initiative: Financial assistance for practical services enabling seniors to remain home — can bridge the discharge-to-home period.
Program: PEI Seniors' Drug Program — residents 65+ with valid PEI health card.
Co-pay: $5 per prescription for commonly prescribed medications (covering ~60% of all regular prescriptions) as of June 2023 federal-PEI agreement. Covers cardiovascular, mental health, and diabetes medications.
PEI Seniors Secretariat: 1-866-770-0588
Locally operated meal programs; Health PEI Home Care includes dietitian services as part of the public home care program — a notable differentiator for PEI compared to most provinces.
Three programs for seniors:
Apply through Access PEI locations.
PEI Senior Citizens' Federation — 50+ seniors clubs province-wide.
Seniors College of PEI — non-credit courses affiliated with UPEI.
Wellness Grant Program: Funds organizations hosting activities to reduce isolation.
211: Available in PEI.
Who coordinates: NL Health Services (NLHS) — single provincial health authority since 2023.
How to access: Referral from physician, hospital, family, or self-referral. Contact NLHS regional office or community health centre. General line: 1-877-729-7888.
Important difference: NL is one of the few provinces where seniors must pay some or all of home support costs — it is NOT provided free of charge. An income-based subsidy (Provincial Home Support Program) is available.
65Plus Plan (for seniors receiving BOTH OAS and GIS): No application required — card automatically issued. Maximum $6.00 dispensing fee per prescription.
Assurance Plan or Access Plan for seniors 65+ not receiving GIS — apply separately.
NLPDP: 1-888-859-3535
Aging Well Grant and Caregiver Benefit: Covers household and health care service expenses (April 2024 onward).
Locally operated Meals on Wheels in most regions. Red Cross and local community organizations in St. John's. Rural pilot programs expanding. No single province-wide structure.
Home Modification Program (HMP) — NL Housing Corporation (NLHC)
Contact: nlhc.nl.ca
Seniors' Social Inclusion Initiative (2024–25): Up to $2,000 for 50-plus clubs and organizations; up to $3,000 for intergenerational projects.
SeniorsNL: Province-wide seniors organization. seniorsnl.ca
211: Available in Newfoundland & Labrador.
Who coordinates: Government of Yukon, Department of Health and Social Services.
How to access: Referral from doctor, hospital, or self-referral. 867-667-5774 (Whitehorse) or 1-877-667-5774 (toll-free in Yukon).
Home First Program: Community-based services to keep residents home.
Complex Client Supports Program: For complex needs, specifically supports hospital-to-home transitions.
Program: Yukon Pharmacare Program for seniors.
Eligibility: Yukon residents 65+ (or 60+ married to a 65+ resident).
Co-pay: None — covers 100% of the lowest-priced generics of all formulary drugs, including dispensing fee. The most generous coverage in Canada.
Phone: 1-800-661-0408
Yukon Council on Aging coordinates community programs. Seniors and Elders Community Day Program at Whistle Bend Place (Whitehorse) includes meals and social activities. New Horizons for Seniors funding supports local food programs.
Accessibility Grant (Yukon Housing Corporation): Up to $30,000 for homeowners with mobility challenges.
Emergency Repair Grant: Up to $10,000 for urgent safety repairs.
Contact: 867-667-5759 or 1-800-661-0408 ext. 5759
Seniors and Elders Community Day Program at Whistle Bend Place — $5/day fee, activities and social interaction. 1-800-661-0408 ext. 6806.
Yukon Council on Aging: Seniors Information Centre. ycoayukon.com
211: Available in Yukon.
Who coordinates: GNWT Department of Health and Social Services, delivered through the NWT Health and Social Services Authority (NTHSSA).
How to access: Contact your local Home Care services or Health Centre. No referral required. NTHSSA delivers services in communities.
Assessment tool: Transitioning to interRAI tools with federal Aging with Dignity funding.
Note: Many NWT residents must travel for hospital care — discharge planning includes travel logistics.
Program: Extended Health Benefits (EHB) Program for seniors.
Eligibility: Age 60+ (not 65) — eligible prescription drugs covered at no cost-share.
New EHB policy in effect September 3, 2024 — income-tiered cost-sharing (10 tiers). Coverage also includes dental, vision, medical supplies, and medical travel.
Local Meals on Wheels programs in Yellowknife and larger communities. NWT Seniors Society supports community programs. No single territory-wide program confirmed.
NWT Housing Corporation — Seniors Home Repair: Forgivable loan up to $50,000 for major repairs. Applications open April 1 – October 31 annually.
Also: Minor home repair programs for senior homeowners.
Contact: nwthc.gov.nt.ca
Local seniors centres in Yellowknife (Yellowknife Seniors' Society) and regional community centres.
NWT Seniors Society Information Line: 1-800-661-0878 — territory-wide information line for seniors.
211: Available in NWT.
Who coordinates: Government of Nunavut, Department of Health — Territorial Home and Continuing Care Program.
How to access: Self-referral or referral through your community health centre or local home care office. Must be a Nunavummiut age 55+ with valid Nunavut Health Care Card. 867-975-5941.
Care levels: Level 2 (independent mobility, minimal support) and Level 3 (chronic conditions, significant daily support needed).
Note: Most major hospital care requires air travel to Iqaluit or southern facilities — discharge planning includes medical travel.
Extended Health Benefits (EHB) — Nunavut: For non-Indigenous seniors 65+. Covers prescriptions, medical travel, and medical supplies.
Most Nunavut residents (Inuit) access federal Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB) through Indigenous Services Canada — covers drugs, dental, vision, and medical travel.
Contact: 867-975-5941
Locally organized in communities. Qajuqturvik Community Food Centre (Iqaluit) — country food subscription box service.
Nutrition North Canada (federal): Subsidized food access to remote northern communities — critical for Nunavut. nutritionnorthcanada.gc.ca
Senior Citizens' Home Repair Program (SCHRP) — Nunavut Housing Corporation
Contact: Nunavut Housing Corporation — gov.nu.ca
Elder Homes in Arviat and Iqaluit (8 beds each) for Level 2–3 care with community-based social connection. Government of Nunavut 2024 Elders and Seniors Strategy published — framework for aging with dignity.
211 availability in Nunavut — verify at 211.ca.
This guide was compiled from provincial and territorial government websites, health authority resources, and publicly available program documentation in May 2026. Program names, eligibility rules, and contact numbers change — sometimes without notice.
Always call the number listed to verify current program details before relying on this information for a care decision. In an emergency, call 911. For urgent health questions, call 811 — available in all provinces and territories.