A Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors in Ontario Ontario.Ca/Seniors
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A Guide to programs and services for seniors in Ontario ontario.ca/seniors BLEED Premier of Ontario - Première ministre de l’Ontario A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE PREMIER On behalf of the Government of Ontario, I am delighted to extend warm greetings to everyone consulting — A Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors in Ontario. Ontario’s senior citizens — a vital part of our society — have wide- ranging needs. In response to that diversity of needs, this guide provides information on programs and services aimed at helping older adults in our province to stay healthy, safe, active and engaged. I commend Ontario’s seniors for the significant role they continue to play in helping to build our communities, and in contributing to our growth and prosperity. I also wish to thank all the family members, friends and caregivers who provide our seniors with support. To everyone reading this valuable resource — please accept my sincere best wishes. Kathleen Wynne Premier Minister of Seniors Affairs - Ministre des Affaires des personnes âgées A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER Dear Friends, I am pleased to share with you this important publication. It’s a clear and concise guide for seniors, their caregivers and family to the programs and services available in Ontario. The Ontario government has a clear and comprehensive plan to respond to the growing needs of seniors. A key element of this plan includes making it easier for seniors to find and access programs and services offered by the provincial and federal governments, and service providers. We want to ensure that there is a one window access point for Ontarians looking for information related to seniors, their caregivers and family. A Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors in Ontario is that key resource to encourage and assist Ontarians to achieve a future that is healthy, active and safe. It’s why we put this guide together; to provide a summary of programs and services that are uniquely beneficial and of interest to seniors everywhere. You’ll find there are many supports offered in particular, by the Ontario government, and many ways to find out more about them. In addition to this guide, you can also access information online at www.ontario.ca/seniors, by email at Infoseniors@ontario.ca, or by phone at 1-888-910-1999. Our goal is to help seniors stay engaged in their communities for as long as possible. It is more important than ever that we continue working hard, together, to make this province the best place in the world to age. Dipika Damerla Minister of Seniors Affairs A GUIDE TO PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR SENIORS IN ONTARIO Seniors’ INFOline 1-888-910-1999 — TTY: 1-800-387-5559 A Guide to Programs and Services for Seniors in Ontario is your resource for information about programs and services available to Ontario’s seniors. It is produced by the Ministry of Seniors Affairs and distributed by ServiceOntario Publications. Additional copies may be ordered through ServiceOntario Publications by calling 1-800-668-9938 or online at www.ontario.ca/publications. If you have suggestions about how to improve this publication, please fill out the enclosed postage-paid business reply card and drop it in a mail box. Information is current as of September 2017. Regular updates to this guide will be posted on the Ministry of Seniors Affairs website at www.ontario.ca/seniors. Également disponible en français sous le titre Guide des programmes et services pour les personnes âgées de l’Ontario. © Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2017 ISBN 978-1-4606-8733-8 (Print) ISBN 978-1-4606-8734-5 (HTML) ISBN 978-1-4606-8735-2 (PDF) 50M/17 Table of Contents 1 ACTIVE LIVING 1 Community Activities 1 Sport and Recreation 2 Travel 3 Employment 4 Lifelong Learning 6 Volunteering 7 Recognizing Seniors’ Contributions 8 Services for Newcomers 10 For Indigenous Seniors 12 For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Seniors 13 For Veterans 13 2 CAREGIVING 15 Tax Credits for Caregivers 15 Employment Benefits 16 3 FINANCES 18 Taxes 18 Pensions and Other Benefits 20 Financial Planning 23 Financial Assistance 25 For Veterans 26 4 HEALTH AND WELLNESS 28 General Information 28 Public Health 30 Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) 33 Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) Program 36 Dental Care 38 Assistive Devices Program 39 Ambulance Services 39 Regional Geriatric Programs (RGPs) of Ontario 40 Mental Health and Addictions 40 Fall Prevention 43 Nutrition 44 Hearing Care Counselling Program 45 MedicAlert® Safely Home® 45 -v- Finding Your Way 45 Community Support Services 46 For Indigenous Seniors 49 For Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered Seniors 50 For Veterans 51 5 HOUSING 52 Home Adaptations 52 Financial Assistance Programs 52 Housing Options 54 Housing Options for Low-Income Seniors 56 Emergency Rental Assistance 57 Landlord and Tenant Relations 57 For Indigenous Seniors 58 6 LONG-TERM CARE HOMES 59 General Information 59 7 SAFETY AND SECURITY 64 Consumer Protection 64 Emergency Services and Public Safety 69 Legal Matters 71 End of Life 77 8 TRANSPORTATION 83 Driving 83 Alternatives to Driving 85 Buying or Selling Vehicles 86 Public Transportation 86 For Veterans 87 9 KEY CONTACTS 88 10 ONTARIO GOVERNMENT I.D. 91 Ontario Photo Card 91 Driver’s Licence 91 Enhanced Driver’s Licence 91 Ontario Health Insurance Plan Health Card 91 To Change Your Address 92 11 INDEX 93 -vi- 1 ACTIVE LIVING Community Activities There are many ways to learn about cultural, recreational and social activities in your community. You can begin by contacting your local: • community and seniors’ centres • service clubs (such as the YMCA, Rotary Club or Royal Canadian Legion) • cultural centres • places of worship • Parks and Recreation Department 2-1-1 www.211ontario.ca Public Libraries Ontario’s extensive public and First Nations library services provide many services to seniors and their families in a welcoming, accessible and friendly environment. Along with lending books and other material, libraries provide Internet access and training, reference material and workshops. Ontario Library Services – North 1-800-461-6348 www.olsn.ca Southern Ontario Library Service 1-800-387-5765 www.sols.org Seniors Active Living Centres Seniors Active Living Centres help local seniors stay active, become more involved in their community and meet new friends. These centres offer unique social activities, learning and educational opportunities and recreational programs. -1- Older Adult Centres’ Association of Ontario 1-866-835-7693 www.oacao.org To find a Seniors Active Living Centre, please contact your municipality or call 2-1-1. Sport and Recreation There are many health benefits of being physically active, including improved fitness, strength and well-being. Regular exercise is an important part of healthy aging. For tips about how you can increase your physical activity, maintain good health and improve your quality of life visit: Physical Activity Tips for Older Adults www.publichealth.gc.ca/paguide Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines www.csep.ca Ontario Senior Games Also known as the Ontario 55+ Summer Games and the Ontario 55+ Winter Games, the Ontario Senior Games include multi-event provincial competitions for older adults. Held every two years in alternating years, these games allow adults 55 years and older to interact in an environment that celebrates a healthy and active lifestyle. Ontario Seniors Games Association 1-800-320-6423 www.ontarioseniorgames.ca Ontario Parks Ontario’s provincial parks offer reduced camping and day-use fees to seniors over the age of 65 and to persons with physical disabilities. Many Ontario parks offer barrier-free facilities, including showers, washrooms, campsites and visitor centres. The Park Locator at OntarioParks.com allows visitors to search for parks with barrier-free facilities. Many campsites accommodate recreational vehicles and may also provide electrical hook-ups and trailer dumping stations. 1-888-ONT-PARK (1-888-668-7275) TTY: 1-866-686-6072 www.ontarioparks.com -2- Fishing and Hunting If you’re over 65 years of age or a Canadian resident with a disability, you are not required to obtain an Outdoors Card with a fishing licence tag to fish in Ontario. However, you must still follow all regulations, including catch and possession limits. If you wish to hunt in Ontario, you are required to obtain an Outdoors Card and you must have a licence valid for the species or group of species you are hunting. You are required to carry the licence and any validation tags while you are hunting, and show the licence to a Conservation Officer if asked to do so. Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry Outdoors Card Centre 1-800-387-7011 www.ontario.ca/outdoorscard Travel Travelling in Ontario Many of Ontario’s tourist attractions offer discounted rates for seniors, while some offer programs with seniors in mind. Visit an Ontario Travel Information Centre to learn more about Ontario’s attractions and to customize an itinerary based on your interests. Ontario Travel 1-800-ONTARIO (1-800-668-2746) www.ontariotravel.net Travelling Outside Ontario or Canada If you are temporarily away from Ontario or Canada, OHIP may cover all or a part of your health care costs. If you are travelling outside of Ontario but within Canada and pay for health services, submit an itemized bill and original receipts to your local OHIP office within a year for a refund. If you are travelling outside of Canada, OHIP will pay a set rate for emergency hospital and physician services for an acute, unexpected condition, illness, disease or injury that requires immediate treatment. To cover medical charges not paid for by OHIP, you should purchase private health insurance for all trips outside of Ontario and Canada.