"Home Care Ontario welcomes today’s announcement of a further extension of the $3 PSW wage enhancement. We have strongly advocated for this as it is critical we acknowledge and recognize the valuable work performed by PSW’s and other participants in the broader healthcare sector. In this regard, it is important to recognize the thousands of PSWs providing family-funded care who, while not included in this policy, play a key role in helping deliver care to thousands of seniors across the province every day.

It is time, however, to move past temporary solutions and make this wage increase permanent.

The wage enhancement is only one part of the solution as it does little to address the wage disparity that exists when home care PSWs are still paid $4-$5 less than in long-term care to do the same job. The government’s investments in the Long-Term Care sector during the pandemic, while needed, have not been accompanied by corresponding support for Ontarians receiving care at home. That has only worsened the disparity and caused an exodus of workers from the home care system. Home Care Ontario has been sounding the alarm for months that the home care system is now in crisis. We are calling on the province to help address this crisis by making an immediate $600M investment to ensure our seniors receive the care they want, where they want it - at home.”

- Sue VanderBent, CEO, Home Care Ontario

See Ministry of Health's full press release here.

The Home Care Ontario Team

Home Care Ontario is pleased to announce that we are asking the Ontario Government to consider a Home Care Tax Credit in the Spring 2021 Budget.

And now we need your help!

Introducing a tax credit is one of the best ways the government can help support seniors living at home, and we know we need thousands of seniors to tell them this is the case!

Please feel free to send this information to your friends, family, groups and communities that you feel would benefit from a Home Care Tax Credit.

Please take a moment and visit know homecaretaxcredit.ca to send a letter to the province right now and join the chorus of seniors and their families calling for this important tax credit.

COVID-19 has demonstrated just how vital home care services are in keeping seniors healthy and safe. Across Ontario, family-funded home care services help seniors to live more independently, remain in their homes for longer, and avoid accidents and illnesses that could cause them to leave their homes unnecessarily. This is why we are calling on the Ontario Government to create a Home Care Tax Credit for family-funded home care services.

Please, visit homecaretaxcredit.ca and with a few simple clicks you can send a letter of support to the province today.

This will go a long way towards helping us achieving our goal of building an Ontario where every senior can live at home for as long as possible.

The Home Care Ontario Team