Orleans, Ottawa · Serving Ottawa and up to 50 km around the cityOrleans, Ottawa
Mon to Fri, 9 AM to 5 PM(343) 644-3431
- Personal Care and PSW Support
- Companion Care
- Respite Care
- Dementia and Alzheimer's Care
- 24 Hour and Live-In Care
- Home Help, Meals and Transportation
- Orleans and East Ottawa
- Gloucester and South Ottawa
- Central Ottawa
- Nepean and Bells Corners
- Barrhaven and Manotick
- Kanata and Stittsville
- Rockland
- Embrun, Russell and Casselman
- Carleton Place, Almonte and Arnprior
- Kemptville, Winchester and Morrisburg
What Home Care Costs in Ottawa
Home care in Ottawa costs $35 to $45 per hour at 1st Home Health Care. That is our real range, and it covers personal care, companionship, respite and overnight help in your parent's own home. This page explains what moves the price, how families usually book hours, and the funding and tax credits that can bring the cost down. Our care is non-medical: we do not give medication, change dressings or do nursing procedures.
PSW Hourly Rate Ontario Families Should Expect
Most families ask the same first question: how much does it cost? Our rate is $35 to $45 per hour. Where your parent sits in that range depends on the care they need, and we confirm the exact price before care begins.
The rate pays for the caregiver's time and the protections behind it. We are insured and bonded, our caregivers are covered by WSIB, and we run Police Vulnerable Sector Checks. For hands-on care we send certified personal support workers (PSWs). For company and supervision we send sitters, who take on lighter duties and are CPR certified.
Hourly Rate for Home Care in Ottawa: What It Adds Up To
To make the numbers concrete, here is what the range means over a week:
- 4 hours a week, such as two short visits for bathing and groceries: $140 to $180
- 10 hours a week, such as a morning visit most days: $350 to $450
- 20 hours a week, such as a daily visit plus a longer day so a family caregiver can rest: $700 to $900
These are simple multiples of our hourly range, not quotes. Your price is confirmed after we meet you and your parent.
Our hourly rate
$35 to $45
per hour
- Insured and bonded
- Caregivers covered by WSIB
- Police Vulnerable Sector Checks
- Certified PSWs and CPR-certified sitters
- Price confirmed before care begins
What Changes the Price
Two families who book the same number of hours can end up at different points in the range. The main things that matter are:
- the type of care, since hands-on personal care and lighter companionship are different jobs
- the number of hours a week and how regular they are
- overnight and 24-hour care, which we plan and price with you instead of quoting by the hour
We learn what your parent needs at a visit to the home, and we give you the price before care starts. There is no need to guess from a web page.
Hours and Scheduling
Care does not have to be daily. Some families book two visits a week, others a few hours every morning, and some need overnight or round-the-clock cover. We provide care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, so the schedule follows the need.
A regular schedule also means the same caregiver comes each time, which helps your parent settle in. If needs change, the hours can go up or down. Tell us the days and hours you have in mind when you call, and we will confirm the schedule and the price before care starts.
Private Pay vs Government Funded Care
Private care and publicly funded care are not an either-or choice. We work with private-pay clients and with clients funded through Ontario Health atHome.
Ontario Health atHome is the provincial agency that assesses people for publicly funded home care. If your parent qualifies, the province pays for those hours. OHIP does not pay for private home care, and publicly funded hours are limited, so many families add private hours on top. You can ask for an assessment by calling Ontario Health atHome at 1-833-515-1234 or through ontariohealthathome.ca. Even if you are not sure your parent qualifies, it is worth asking.
The Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit
Ontario residents aged 70 and over may be able to claim the Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit. It is a refundable credit worth 25 per cent of eligible medical expenses, on up to $6,000 of expenses a year, so the most it can return is $1,500. The credit is reduced for higher family incomes, by 5 per cent of family net income above $35,000.
Eligible expenses can include care that is certified as attendant care needs, so keep every invoice and receipt. The rules are on the Government of Ontario's tax credit page. Check with the government or a tax professional before you rely on the credit for your own family.
Other Ways to Reduce the Cost
Beyond the Ontario credit, a few other things are worth checking:
- Federal tax return: some home care costs may count as medical expenses. The Canada Revenue Agency explains which expenses qualify.
- Long term care insurance: some policies pay for home care. Read the wording of your parent's policy and ask the insurer what documents it needs.
- Veterans benefits: if your parent is a Veteran, ask Veterans Affairs Canada about home care benefits.
- Start with the hardest tasks: many families begin with bathing or an evening visit and add hours only when they are needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does home care cost in Ottawa?
Our rates run from $35 to $45 per hour. The exact price depends on the care your parent needs and the hours booked, and we confirm it before care begins. For example, 10 hours a week comes to $350 to $450 a week. Overnight and 24-hour care is planned and priced with you.
What does the hourly rate include?
It covers the caregiver's time and the protections behind it. We are insured and bonded, our caregivers are covered by WSIB, and we run Police Vulnerable Sector Checks. Certified PSWs provide hands-on care, and CPR-certified sitters provide company and supervision. We confirm the price before care starts.
Does OHIP cover home care for seniors?
OHIP does not pay for private home care. Ontario Health atHome assesses people for a limited number of publicly funded hours, and families pay privately for hours beyond that. We work with private-pay clients and with clients funded through Ontario Health atHome, so the two can be combined.
Is home care tax deductible in Ontario?
Some of it can be. Seniors aged 70 and over may claim the Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit, which is 25 per cent of eligible expenses up to $6,000. Some home care costs may also count as medical expenses on your federal return. Check the rules with the government or a tax professional.
How do I get government funded home care in Ontario?
Call Ontario Health atHome at 1-833-515-1234, or use its website, to ask for an assessment. The agency reviews your parent's needs and decides which publicly funded services they qualify for. If the hours are limited, we can provide private hours on top.
Can I start with just a few hours a week?
Yes. Many families begin with a few hours a week and change the hours as needs change. Care can also grow to overnight or 24-hour cover. Tell us the days and hours you have in mind, and we will confirm the schedule and the price before care begins.
Get a Clear Price for Your Parent's Care
Call us and tell us what your parent needs. We will visit the home, explain your options and confirm the price before care begins. If you want to know what home care in Ottawa will cost for your own family, that is the quickest way to find out.