DHS CARE CALCULATOR
Use this tool to discover how many hours of assistance you can receive in your own home for the same cost of relocating to a Nursing or Retirement home:
MONTHLY COST |
NURSING HOME |
DHS COMPANION |
DHS HOME SUPPORT |
DHS PERSONAL SUPPORT |
| $1544.00 | Basic Rate - Four Bed Room |
98 Hours Monthly 3 Hours Daily |
81 Hours Monthly 2.5 Hours Daily |
70 Hours Monthly 2 Hours Daily |
| $1788.00 | Semi-Private - Two Bed Room |
110 Hours Monthly 3.5 Hours Daily |
94 Hours Monthly 3 Hours Daily |
80 Hours Monthly 2.5 Hours Daily |
| $2092.00 | Private Room |
132 Hours Monthly 4 Hours Daily |
110 Hours Monthly 3.5 Hours Daily |
95 Hours Monthly 3 Hours Daily |
| $4183.00 | Private Room for Husband and Wife |
265 Hour Monthly 8.5 Hours Daily |
220 Hours Monthly 7 Hours Daily |
190 Hours Monthly 6 Hours Daily |
| $3500.00 | Average Cost for Retirement Home - Private |
222 Hours Monthly 7 Hours Daily |
184 Hours Monthly 6 Hours Daily |
159 Hours Monthly 5 Hours Daily |
| $7000.00 | Average Cost for Retirement House - Couple |
444 Hours Monthly 14 Hours Daily |
368 Hours Monthly 11.5 Hours Daily |
318 Hours Monthly 10 Hours Daily |
Costs for all Nursing Homes in Durham Region set by Ministry of Long Term Care (2008):
Basic $ 1544.00 Semi-Private $ 1788.00 Private $ 2092.00
Costs for Retirement Homes in Durham Region vary per facility average $3500 (Range $ 2000-5000) per month
DHS Companion Services
Light Meal Prep and light tidy, Companionship, Safety Supervision, Caregiver Relief
DHS Home Support Services
Meal Preparation, Grocery Shopping, Laundry, Light Housekeeping, Companionship, Remind Medications and Assist and Remind Personal Care, Safety Supervision, Caregiver Relief
DHS Personal Support Services
Provide Personal Care, Bathing, Transferring, Exercises, and Medications via Dossette, Full Care and all Home Support Duties, light housekeeping, meals, and laundry. DHS Workers may also drive clients after the client signs an Agreement for Driving and agrees to pay kilometre charges.
- • ALL COSTS BASED ON MARCH 2008 RATES
- • Based on a 31-day month without taxes. Rates are subject to change.
- • Call for your FREE In-Home Assessment
Important Things You Should Know
- Long Term Care (Nursing Homes and Homes for the Aged) are not fully insured or funded in any province or territory in Canada. All Nursing Homes are not operated publicly. Over 52 % of homes in Ontario are for profit homes.
- The majority of costs of Nursing Home placements are paid by the Resident. Only 17.7 % of seniors fell below the low income cut off for subsidized Long Term Care Placement. For everyone else Long Term Care can be a costly option ($1787.29 for Semi-Private and $ 2091.45 for Private Rooms). Long Term Care Residents are also required to pay additional costs for transportation to medical tests, appointments, dental care, foot care and some medications.
- You don’t get as much as you might think. The Current Daily Amounts include $ 52.39 for Nursing and Personal Care, $5.74 for programming and $ 44.70 for Accommodations. Under the Accommodations amount this includes a Daily Food Allowance of $ 5.57 per day and $ 1.20 per day for Diapers and Incontinence Products. The Food Allowance is $0.37 less than Prisoners rate.
- The Amount of Care you receive is less than 2.5 hours per day. In Ontario the government actually scrapped the law that guaranteed an elderly person receive a minimum of 2.25 hours of daily care. Nurses often care for and medicate 40-60 Residents per shift. Personal Support Workers have to work part time fluctuating shifts and are responsible for 10-15 residents. (DIGNITY DENIED, Long Term Care for Canada’s Elderly 2007, www.nupge.ca/files/publications/Medicare/Dignity_Denied.pdf )
- You can and should visit and research Nursing Homes Long Term Care Reports are available on the 600 Long Term Care Homes in Ontario and provide information such as ownership, number of beds, inspections and complaints issued. www.health.gov.on.ca/english/public/program/ltc/26-reporting.htmlOr you can call the Ministry Long Term Care Action Line at 1-866.434-0144 for assistance or to ask for the reports in another language. Reports should also be posted in each facility or you can request a copy of the most current report when you tour a facility. You are strongly encouraged to visit facilities.
- Wait Lists for Long Term Care homes in Durham Region are currently around two years for most homes. Many seniors must have some help in their homes during the waiting period. Use this as an opportunity to plan your options.
- Retirement Homes are NOT regulated nor funded by the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. Each Retirement Homes care levels; costs and accommodations are established individually. Some offer Registered Nurses on staff and assistance with personal care others offer meals and a room only.
- CCAC also provides free in home services (Nursing, Physio, Personal Support) that help seniors stay in their own home that you can supplement if you need more. Contact CCAC at 905-430-3308 and ask for an Assessment.
- Seniors are the fastest growing population in Canada. The rate of senior population far exceeds the increase in Nursing Home Beds.
- Most seniors would prefer to stay in their own home and it is cheaper to get care in your own home than it is to go to a Long Term Care Home or Retirement Home. There are many options other than going to a Nursing Home or Retirement Homes that can be better for you and cost less too. DHS would be pleased to visit you and let you know what your options are!
