Family guide
Using private care alongside Ontario Health atHome
A household considering home care may have questions for both a public care contact and a private agency. The first conversation does not need to settle every detail. Start with what the person at home wants, the help being considered and the questions that belong with each organization.
Public eligibility, available services and scheduling depend on the responsible provider's process and the person's circumstances. Ask that provider about current rules and your own situation. Ask any private agency, including Alcove, about its own proposed service and terms. The cost and funding page offers a starting point for comparing options.
Map the help being considered
With the person receiving care, list the activities they want help with and the times that matter. Include what they prefer to do themselves and what family or friends have agreed to take on. Keep the list practical: a task, a preferred time and the name of anyone already involved.
Next to each item, note whether it is confirmed, requested or still an open question. A calendar can show where visits are expected and where nobody has agreed to help. It can also show overlapping requests that deserve a conversation. Do not treat a request or an assessment discussion as a confirmed visit.
Ask the public contact what support is being considered, how decisions are communicated and whom to call with questions. Ask a private agency which requested activities fall inside its service. If the request involves health care or treatment, ask the care team or doctor who should handle it.
Ask each provider about its part
For the public side, ask the responsible organization about eligibility, assessment, any available services and how the household learns of a decision. Ask how to report a change in circumstances and whether the contact details for your area are current. Ontario Health atHome and the Ontario home care page are places to start these questions.
For a private request, describe the same tasks and schedule. Ask what the agency can discuss, what remains unconfirmed and how it explains its terms and charges. Ask whether it needs to know about other visits when considering the schedule. A proposed plan should be reviewed with the person at home before anyone agrees to it.
Do not assume one provider coordinates another provider's work. Ask each organization who handles scheduling, who can answer questions and how changes are communicated. If the household wants providers to exchange information, ask each one what permission and contact details it needs. The person receiving care should be part of that decision as much as they wish.
Keep one household record
A short shared note can make conversations easier. With the person's permission, record:
- The requested activities and the person's preferences.
- Each provider's name, contact and the questions assigned to it.
- Confirmed visits, unconfirmed requests and any gaps on the calendar.
- The people chosen to receive updates and what may be shared with them.
- The dates to revisit open questions or changes in the plan.
Keep each organization's answer with its name and date. If one schedule changes, tell the people who need to know and ask the other provider whether its arrangement is affected. Update the record after the relevant parties confirm their parts. This helps the household distinguish an idea from an agreement.
If the plan still has gaps, ask the person at home and trusted family or friends what is realistic. 211 Ontario is a starting point for finding community resources. The guide to care options also sets out questions for a wider family discussion.
Frequently asked questions
Can a household ask about both public and private care?
Yes. Ask each organization about its own process, scope and terms, and describe the household's request. The responsible public provider can answer questions about current eligibility and available services. A private agency can explain what it is able to discuss for the proposed request.
Who manages the calendar?
Ask each provider who handles its schedule and how the household receives changes. Agree with the person receiving care on a family contact if they want one. Keep a shared calendar of confirmed visits and open questions, and check changes with the relevant provider.
What information should providers share?
Ask the person receiving care what they want shared and with whom. Then ask each organization about its consent process and how information is exchanged. Share only the details needed for the conversation and ask the care team or doctor about clinical questions.
Sources
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