How much does home care cost in Ontario in 2026?

Ontario does not publish an official price list for privately purchased home care. Rates vary by provider, care model, city, schedule and clinical complexity. Publicly posted Ontario prices reviewed for this guide ranged from the high twenties for some starting companion-care rates to $40 or more for personal support, with some providers describing traditional agency rates around $40 to $55.

To keep the examples consistent, every calculation below uses $35 to $45 per hour. Treat that as a planning range, not a promise that every service or provider will fall inside it.

Companion care — planning range: $35 to $40 per hour. Conversation, supervision, meals, light housekeeping, errands and outings.

Personal support or PSW care — planning range: $35 to $45 per hour. Bathing, dressing, toileting, mobility assistance, medication reminders and meal support.

Dementia or complex personal care — often toward the upper end or separately quoted. Experience with cognitive change, responsive behaviours, heavier physical assistance or complex routines may affect the rate.

Nursing visits — quoted after assessment. Clinical tasks such as wound care, injections, catheter care and health monitoring require an RN or RPN and should not be priced as ordinary companion care.

Awake overnight care — hourly planning calculation: $350 to $450 for ten hours. Some providers use different overnight or sleep-shift models, so confirm whether the caregiver is expected to remain awake and what happens when help is needed repeatedly.

24/7 rotating coverage — hourly planning calculation: $840 to $1,080 per day. Actual providers may use daily rates, longer-shift pricing or staffing packages. Ask for a written schedule and total before comparing proposals.

Hourly rates become useful only after the schedule is defined. These examples use 52 weeks divided by 12 months, rather than assuming every month contains exactly four weeks.

Two 4-hour visits weekly — 8 hours: $280–$360 weekly, $1,213–$1,560 monthly, $14,560–$18,720 yearly. Often suitable for light help with bathing, groceries and companionship.

Three 4-hour visits weekly — 12 hours: $420–$540 weekly, $1,820–$2,340 monthly, $21,840–$28,080 yearly. Often suitable for someone mostly independent who needs regular help with bathing, meals or errands.

Four hours every day — 28 hours: $980–$1,260 weekly, $4,247–$5,460 monthly, $50,960–$65,520 yearly. Often suitable when personal care or a daily check-in should not be skipped.

Eight hours every weekday — 40 hours: $1,400–$1,800 weekly, $6,067–$7,800 monthly, $72,800–$93,600 yearly. Often used while a family caregiver is at work.

Eight hours every day — 56 hours: $1,960–$2,520 weekly, $8,493–$10,920 monthly, $101,920–$131,040 yearly.

Ten awake overnight hours every night — 70 hours: $2,450–$3,150 weekly, $10,617–$13,650 monthly, $127,400–$163,800 yearly.

24/7 rotating shifts — 168 hours: $5,880–$7,560 weekly, $25,480–$32,760 monthly, $305,760–$393,120 yearly. This is an hourly calculation; actual daily packages may differ.

Quick formula: hourly rate × hours per week × 52 ÷ 12 = average monthly amount. For example, 12 hours at $35 is $420 a week and $1,820 per average month. At $45, it is $540 a week and $2,340 per average month.

Type of care. Companion support commonly costs less than hands-on personal care, while regulated nursing is priced separately. A good assessment matches each task to the right worker so a family is not paying nursing rates for help with lunch.

Visit length and minimums. Many providers set a minimum visit of two to four hours. Two one-hour visits may be unavailable or less cost-effective because travel, scheduling and documentation still have to be covered.

Time of day and week. Evenings, weekends and statutory holidays may carry premiums. Overnight pricing depends on whether the caregiver remains awake or can sleep between calls for help.

Complexity. Responsive dementia behaviours, two-person transfers, mechanical lifts and overlapping health conditions can require more experienced staff or a different staffing plan.

Location. GTA prices and availability can differ from smaller communities. Rural travel time may affect what a provider can offer.

Agency versus direct hire. An independently hired caregiver may quote a lower hourly rate, but the family may become responsible for screening, backup coverage, insurance, payroll deductions and other employer obligations. An agency rate should include the infrastructure it promises.

A low headline rate can hide no backup when a caregiver is ill, limited screening, long contracts, cancellation charges, constant caregiver changes or nobody clinically overseeing the plan. A missed shift that leads to a fall, or a parent who refuses a different stranger each week, can erase the apparent saving quickly.

Ask every provider:

- What is the hourly or daily rate, and what is the minimum visit length?
- Are evenings, weekends and statutory holidays charged differently?
- Is there a contract, deposit, setup fee or cancellation notice?
- Are caregivers police-checked, insured and covered by WSIB?
- Who oversees and updates the care plan? Is clinical oversight available?
- What happens when the scheduled caregiver is ill or is not a good match?
- How consistently will the same caregiver visit?
- How and when will the family receive updates?
- Are transportation, mileage or supplies charged separately?

Compare the written total and service model, not only one number in an advertisement.

Start with publicly funded home care. Ontario Health atHome assesses eligible residents and coordinates publicly funded nursing, personal support, therapy and other services. These services can be provided without direct charges to eligible patients, but the approved type and amount depend on assessed need and program availability. Families often use public care as a foundation and add private hours around it. Read government home care versus private home care in Ontario.

Check tax credits carefully. The Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit is a refundable credit for eligible low- to moderate-income Ontario seniors age 70 or older. It can equal up to 25% of claimable medical expenses up to $6,000, for a maximum credit of $1,500, subject to an income-based reduction. Some attendant-care expenses may also qualify as medical expenses under federal rules, but certification, Disability Tax Credit interactions and receipt requirements matter. Read who qualifies for the Ontario credit and confirm your situation with the CRA or a tax professional.

Check other funding. Eligible veterans may receive help through the Veterans Independence Program. Extended health or long-term care insurance may cover part of the cost. Our Ontario and Alberta home-care funding guide brings the options together.

Match hours to the hardest moments. The best-value plan may cover the morning shower, evening routine, post-hospital transition or hours when the family caregiver is at work, rather than buying a long block every day.

Share the plan across the family. Siblings who cannot provide hands-on care may contribute financially, handle appointments or cover specific weekly shifts. Put responsibilities and review dates in writing before resentment grows.

For a few hours of help each day, private home care may cost less than moving to a retirement residence, and the older adult remains in familiar surroundings. As needs approach overnight or 24/7 support, home-care costs can exceed some residential options.

The comparison is not simply hourly care versus monthly rent. Include housing costs, meals, transportation, supplies, public funding, family help, home modifications and how long the higher level of care is expected to last. Our guide to the true cost of aging in place versus assisted living walks through that decision.

Families arranging care in Alberta should use the separate Alberta home-care funding guide, because eligibility and delivery systems differ.

Every family begins with a free assessment so the proposed schedule reflects what the person actually needs.

"We do not know how much help Mom needs." A free in-home assessment reviews routines, safety and health needs, then recommends the type and number of hours. Care plans are overseen by our Clinical Director, a Registered Nurse.

"We want to begin with a few hours a week." Companion care and personal care assistance can cover meals, bathing, errands, mobility and company.

"Dad is coming home from hospital next week." Hospital discharge support and after-surgery care can begin intensively and reduce as strength returns.

"She needs clinical tasks as well as daily support." Skilled nursing care handles appropriate clinical work, while PSW support covers daily routines so nursing time is used where it is needed.

"He cannot safely be alone day or night." 24/7 senior home care and dementia care provide rotating coverage and experience with memory change.

"The family caregiver needs a break." In-home respite care provides planned relief from a few hours to longer periods.

Corelia Health offers flexible care plans without long-term contracts. Caregivers are bonded, WSIB/WCB insured and cleared through vulnerable-sector police checks. If a caregiver is not the right fit, the match can be changed. We serve Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Oakville, Burlington, Milton, Halton Hills, Guelph and North Bay in Ontario, plus Edmonton and Red Deer in Alberta.

A market range is only a starting point. A free, no-obligation assessment turns needs into a proposed schedule and written price without pressure to commit.

Public program and tax information was checked against official sources. Market prices were compared with publicly listed Ontario provider rates and are included as examples, not endorsements. Published prices can change at any time.

- Getting started with publicly funded home care — Ontario Health atHome
- Ontario Seniors Care at Home Tax Credit — Government of Ontario
- Attendant care and medical expense rules — Canada Revenue Agency
- Published Ontario starting rates — PSW Direct
- Published Halton starting rates — Maplepath Healthcare
- Published Ontario pricing and minimum-visit information — CareQuilt