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
Daily Living Support for Ottawa Seniors
Home help for seniors in Ottawa covers the everyday jobs that get harder with age: light housekeeping, laundry, meals, grocery runs and rides to appointments. 1st Home Health Care sends a caregiver who stays with your parent, so the house stays clean, the fridge stays full and your parent keeps living independently. This is non-medical care: we do not give medication, change dressings or do nursing procedures. Our office is on Talcy Crescent in Orleans.
Housekeeping for Seniors in Ottawa
Most families notice it first in the house. Dishes pile up, laundry sits, the bathroom has not been cleaned in weeks and the fridge holds food that has gone off. A parent may be managing well in other ways, but bending, lifting and standing for long are now hard, and a tidy home is a safer home.
A caregiver keeps the house in order at a level that feels comfortable to your parent, and does it alongside them, not around them. Many seniors say yes to this kind of help sooner than they would to help with bathing, because it feels like a favour, not a loss of independence.
What Light Housekeeping Includes and What It Does Not
Light housekeeping keeps a home clean, safe and comfortable. It is not a deep clean or a renovation crew. A typical visit may include:
- washing dishes and wiping counters, the stove top and the table
- tidying living areas, making the bed and keeping walkways clear
- vacuuming and mopping floors
- cleaning the bathroom and the kitchen
- taking out the garbage and recycling
- clearing out old food and checking what needs to be bought
It does not include heavy cleaning, such as moving furniture, washing windows, cleaning ovens, ceilings or carpet shampooing, and it does not include yard work or home repairs. If you need those, a cleaning or maintenance company is a better fit, and we are happy to say so.
Meal Preparation and Nutrition Support
Meals are one of the first things to slip. Cooking for one is less fun, standing at the stove is tiring, and a parent with memory loss may forget to eat. A caregiver can make sure there is a proper meal on the table.
Meal Preparation For Seniors
Your caregiver can plan meals with your parent, shop for what is needed, cook, and sit down to eat together, which often improves appetite. Depending on your parent's needs, this might include:
- cooking the meals your parent likes, in the way they like them
- preparing meals ahead for the days between visits
- following a diet your parent's doctor has recommended, such as low salt or soft foods
- cutting up food or setting the table so it is easier to eat
- washing up and cleaning the kitchen afterwards
- noticing when your parent is eating less and telling the family
Grocery Shopping and Errands
A caregiver can shop with your parent or on their behalf, and pick up prescriptions or other small errands on the way. Going along gives your parent an outing and a say in what goes in the basket. Shopping for them saves energy on days when getting out is too much. Either way, your parent always has food in the house, which matters most in winter.
Senior Transportation and Appointment Escorts
Getting to an appointment is hard when you do not drive, or when walking to a bus stop or waiting in the cold is too much. A caregiver can drive or accompany your parent to doctor's visits, the pharmacy, the hairdresser, a family dinner or a favourite outing. For appointments, they stay with your parent, help them in and out of the car, and write down anything the doctor says, so the family has a record.
Some families use a mix of options: a caregiver in the family car, a taxi, or Ottawa's Para Transpo service, which is the accessible transit service run by OC Transpo. A caregiver can help with any of these, including getting your parent ready on time and seeing them home safely.
Laundry, Linens and Bedding
Laundry is heavy work: stairs, baskets, wet clothes and bed sheets. A caregiver can wash, dry and fold clothes, change the bed and put things away where your parent can reach them. This also helps keep the bedroom fresh and removes a task that causes many falls on basement stairs.
Seasonal Help Through an Ottawa Winter
Winter makes everything harder for older adults in Ottawa. Snow and ice keep many seniors indoors for weeks, and a trip to the shop or the clinic becomes a risk. A caregiver can pick up the groceries, get your parent safely to the car, clear walkways inside the home, and be there so your parent does not face the cold alone. Many families start home help in the autumn so everything is in place before the first storm.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is home help for seniors?
Home help is non-medical support with daily living: light housekeeping, laundry, meal preparation, grocery shopping and rides to appointments. A caregiver comes to the house and does these jobs with your parent. It does not include medication or nursing care.
What does light housekeeping include?
Light housekeeping includes washing dishes, tidying, vacuuming, mopping, cleaning the kitchen and bathroom, taking out the garbage and changing the bed. It does not include heavy cleaning such as moving furniture, washing windows, cleaning ovens or yard work.
Can a caregiver take my parent to appointments?
Yes. A caregiver can drive or accompany your parent to medical appointments, the pharmacy and outings. They help your parent in and out of the car, stay with them through the visit and tell the family what was said.
Can a caregiver cook for my parent?
Yes. A caregiver can plan, shop for and cook meals, follow a diet your parent's doctor recommends and eat with your parent. This helps seniors who skip meals or find cooking tiring. A caregiver can also prepare meals ahead for the days between visits.
How much does home help cost in Ottawa?
Our rates run from $35 to $45 per hour, depending on the care and the hours booked. We confirm the exact price before care begins. Our home care cost guide explains rates, funding and tax credits in detail.
Can I combine home help with other care?
Yes. Many families combine home help with companion care or personal care. A single caregiver can often do both on one visit, so you only need one schedule. Tell us what your parent needs and we will suggest the right mix.
Let Us Take the Daily Jobs Off Your Plate
If your parent needs a hand with the house, the meals or the drive to an appointment, call (343) 644-3431 or send us a message about home help for seniors in Ottawa. Tell us what is getting hard, and we will suggest what help might look like.