Start here: two numbers open most doors
Like the youth system, Toronto’s seniors’ services work as a navigation network— one call often opens several doors. A note on age: “senior” cutoffs vary (some start at 50, most at 55, some at 65). Don’t assume you’re too young or too old — check each program.
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Max GIS top-up per month for a low-income single senior
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Free 24/7 navigation in 150+ languages — call or text
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Long-term care homes you can apply to at once
Do this first
Call or text 211
Free, confidential, 24/7, 150+ languages — the single best 'I don't know who to call' number.
Dial 2-1-1Toronto Seniors Helpline
A dedicated line to health, crisis, and community support — weekdays 9am–8pm, weekends 10am–6pm, 100+ languages.
416-217-2077Ontario Health atHome
The gateway for anything home-care or long-term-care related. No area code needed.
Call 310-2222
Home care & staying independent
Ontario Health atHome (formerly CCAC/LHIN) is the single access point for publicly funded home care. Call 310-2222 (no area code) or 1-833-515-1234, 7 days a week. A case manager assesses whether you need help with daily activities — bathing, dressing, eating, walking.
- If you qualify: nursing, physio, occupational & speech therapy, social work for caregivers, and personal support worker (PSW) help with daily activities.
- If you don't qualify: you may still get community support services with a co-payment, or pay privately.
- Home at Last — short-term free support for adults 55+ leaving hospital without family/friend support.
- Mention any language or cultural needs when you call — some agencies specialize in Indigenous, Francophone, Black, and other communities.
Denied and think you shouldn't be?
You can appeal through the Ontario Health Services Appeal and Review Board (HSARB). Complaints about harm or neglect go to the Long-Term Care ACTION Line or the Patient Ombudsman (1-888-321-0339). Note: public home-care hours are capped — many families supplement with private PSW hours (~$24–33/hr in Toronto).Long-term care, retirement & supportive housing
| Option | What it is | How to access |
|---|---|---|
| Long-term care (LTC) homes | 24-hour nursing & personal care when community supports aren't enough | Apply via Ontario Health atHome — up to 5 homes; once a bed opens you have 24 hrs to accept |
| Retirement homes | Private rental with meals, activities, housekeeping — not government-funded | Search the RHRA directory |
| Supportive housing | Personal care, housekeeping, meal prep & med reminders in designated buildings | Access to Housing: 416-338-8888 |
| Assisted Living Services | A step between home-care visits and 24/7 nursing — as-needed care | Through Ontario Health atHome |
| LTC rate reduction | Subsidy if you can't afford a basic LTC room | Ask your chosen LTC home — they help you apply annually |
Long-term care (LTC) homes
- What it is
- 24-hour nursing & personal care when community supports aren't enough
- How to access
- Apply via Ontario Health atHome — up to 5 homes; once a bed opens you have 24 hrs to accept
Retirement homes
- What it is
- Private rental with meals, activities, housekeeping — not government-funded
- How to access
- Search the RHRA directory
Supportive housing
- What it is
- Personal care, housekeeping, meal prep & med reminders in designated buildings
- How to access
- Access to Housing: 416-338-8888
Assisted Living Services
- What it is
- A step between home-care visits and 24/7 nursing — as-needed care
- How to access
- Through Ontario Health atHome
LTC rate reduction
- What it is
- Subsidy if you can't afford a basic LTC room
- How to access
- Ask your chosen LTC home — they help you apply annually
Worried about affording your current home?
Property Tax Increase Cancellation/Deferral, Water & Solid Waste rebates for low-income seniors; the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant (up to $500/yr, 64+, via the ON-BEN form); and the Emergency Energy Fund for those not on OW/ODSP.At risk of homelessness?
Call Central Intake for a bed. Islington Seniors’ Shelter and Scarborough Village Residence serve older adults; Haven Toronto is a drop-in for homeless men 50+ (meals, showers, nursing, housing help).Money & benefits you may be entitled to
| Benefit | What it is | Amount (2026) | How to get it |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAS | Federal monthly pension, 65+ | Varies by years in Canada | Usually automatic; else apply via Service Canada |
| GIS | Non-taxable top-up for low-income OAS recipients | Up to $1,105.43/mo single | My Service Canada Account or Form ISP-3025; backdatable 11 mo |
| GAINS (Ontario) | Top-up on OAS/GIS | Up to $92/mo single, $184 couple | Automatic if you get OAS + GIS |
| OAS Allowance | For 60–64 whose spouse gets GIS | ~$1,409/mo, combined income < ~$41,616 | Apply via Service Canada |
| Allowance for the Survivor | Widowed, 60–64, low income | ~$1,680/mo, income < ~$30,312 | Apply via Service Canada |
| CPP | Taxable pension based on contributions | Varies | Apply via Service Canada before you want payments |
OAS
- What it is
- Federal monthly pension, 65+
- Amount (2026)
- Varies by years in Canada
- How to get it
- Usually automatic; else apply via Service Canada
GIS
- What it is
- Non-taxable top-up for low-income OAS recipients
- Amount (2026)
- Up to $1,105.43/mo single
- How to get it
- My Service Canada Account or Form ISP-3025; backdatable 11 mo
GAINS (Ontario)
- What it is
- Top-up on OAS/GIS
- Amount (2026)
- Up to $92/mo single, $184 couple
- How to get it
- Automatic if you get OAS + GIS
OAS Allowance
- What it is
- For 60–64 whose spouse gets GIS
- Amount (2026)
- ~$1,409/mo, combined income < ~$41,616
- How to get it
- Apply via Service Canada
Allowance for the Survivor
- What it is
- Widowed, 60–64, low income
- Amount (2026)
- ~$1,680/mo, income < ~$30,312
- How to get it
- Apply via Service Canada
CPP
- What it is
- Taxable pension based on contributions
- Amount (2026)
- Varies
- How to get it
- Apply via Service Canada before you want payments
The tip most people miss: file your taxes every year
GIS is one of the most under-claimed benefits in Canada. You must file taxes every year, even with zero income, or your GIS payments are suspended starting in July. If you stopped filing because you thought you didn’t need to, that alone can quietly cut off your benefit.- Ontario Drug Benefit (ODB) — covers most prescription costs for seniors 65+.
- Seniors Dental Care / Canadian Dental Care Plan — for seniors without dental insurance.
- Assistive Devices Program (ADP) — helps with mobility aids, hearing aids, and equipment.
Legal protection & elder abuse
Advocacy Centre for the Elderly (ACE)
Canada's oldest legal clinic for seniors, funded by Legal Aid for low-income GTA seniors — consumer protection, elder abuse, health consent, home care, LTC, pensions, powers of attorney (advice), and wills-related problems. Does not draft wills/POAs.
- Address
- 55 University Ave, Suite 1500
Intake: Mon/Wed/Fri 9am–5pm (closed Tue/Thu for new inquiries).
Elder abuse & safety
Toronto Seniors Helpline connects seniors experiencing abuse to crisis support and safety planning. PEACE (Etobicoke/York) offers in-person help Tuesdays, no income test.
- Pro Bono Law Ontario — up to 30 min free legal advice for civil matters: 1-855-255-7256.
- CLEO — free plain-language legal info on seniors’ law: 416-408-4420.
- Set up a Power of Attorney for Personal Care before a crisis — it lets someone make health, shelter, and safety decisions if you become mentally incapable. Use the Law Society referral service for a free 30-min consult to draft one.
Getting around Toronto
| Service | Who it's for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Wheel-Trans (TTC) | People whose disability prevents using conventional transit | Door-to-door; eligibility by function not age; same fare as TTC |
| Support Person Assistance Card | Riders needing a companion | One support person rides free alongside the registered user |
| iRIDE / iRIDE Plus | Older adults not eligible for Wheel-Trans | Subsidized door-to-door rides: 1-844-474-3301 |
| Toronto Ride | Adults 55+ or people with disabilities | Assisted door-to-door via nonprofits, weekdays 8–5, fare per km |
| WoodGreen Transportation | Seniors 55+ & adults with disabilities in service area | Escorted rides to medical appointments + translation; fees apply |
| Cancer Society Driving Program | Cancer patients | Free rides to major hospitals (one-time fee): 416-488-5400 |
Wheel-Trans (TTC)
- Who it's for
- People whose disability prevents using conventional transit
- How it works
- Door-to-door; eligibility by function not age; same fare as TTC
Support Person Assistance Card
- Who it's for
- Riders needing a companion
- How it works
- One support person rides free alongside the registered user
iRIDE / iRIDE Plus
- Who it's for
- Older adults not eligible for Wheel-Trans
- How it works
- Subsidized door-to-door rides: 1-844-474-3301
Toronto Ride
- Who it's for
- Adults 55+ or people with disabilities
- How it works
- Assisted door-to-door via nonprofits, weekdays 8–5, fare per km
WoodGreen Transportation
- Who it's for
- Seniors 55+ & adults with disabilities in service area
- How it works
- Escorted rides to medical appointments + translation; fees apply
Cancer Society Driving Program
- Who it's for
- Cancer patients
- How it works
- Free rides to major hospitals (one-time fee): 416-488-5400
Dementia, cognitive health & caregivers
Alzheimer Society of Toronto
Free dementia support for anyone touched by dementia — the person living with it, family, friends, or caregivers. Free counselling, care navigation, education, and social programs, plus caregiver support groups run by registered social workers.
First Link & MINT Memory Clinics
First Link is the referral program your doctor uses to connect you to the Alzheimer Society right after diagnosis (you can also self-refer). MINT Memory Clinics offer primary-care-based dementia diagnosis closer to home.
Caregivers: you can get support too
Ask about respite care through Ontario Health atHome (short-term relief so you can rest), WoodGreen’s caregiver counsellingand group support, and Hospice Palliative Care Ontario for advance-care planning and bereavement. You don’t have to wait until you’re overwhelmed to ask.Meals, daily support & staying connected
Meals & home help
- Meals on Wheels / WoodGreen — hot & frozen meal delivery + wellness checks for seniors 55+.
- Congregate dining — community sit-down/take-out meals at seniors' centres.
- Home support — housekeeping, groceries, meal prep on a sliding scale.
- Snow removal, lawn care & grocery delivery — ask 211 for local programs.
Connection & recreation
- A Friendly Voice — phone support for lonely seniors 55+, no registration: 1-855-892-9992.
- Friendly Visiting (WoodGreen) — volunteer visits & wellness checks; register via Central Intake.
- Seniors Active Living Centres — courses & activities, some by language: 1-888-910-1999.
- City recreation (60+) free/discounted; Sunshine Centres — 2SLGBTQI+-friendly programs.
Community-specific supports
- Indigenous seniors — Native Canadian Centre Seniors Program (independence at home); Parkdale Queen West CHC Four Winds (healing ceremonies, primary care); Hope for Wellness, 24/7. See the Indigenous guide.
- Black seniors — many Black-led multi-service agencies run dedicated seniors’ programs (friendly visiting, telephone checks, health education); find them via 211.
- Newcomer seniors — CultureLink, COSTI, Access Alliance, CICS: settlement, language, counselling (incl. Mandarin/Cantonese) & social programs. Settlement.org helps with OAS/CPP/GIS applications.
- Francophone seniors — Centre francophone du Grand Toronto: health, mental health & counselling in French.
- 2SLGBTQ+ seniors — The 519 Older Adults program (Monday drop-ins + BIPOC 50+ group); Sunshine Centres Rainbow Circle; Senior Pride Network. See the 2SLGBTQ+ guide.
Crisis, mental health & health navigation
- Toronto Seniors Helpline / Community Crisis Service (416-217-2077) — crisis support, or a team can visit a senior at home, make a safety plan, and connect them to food, housing or health services.
- 988 — Suicide Crisis Helpline, call or text any time.
- Distress Centres of Greater Toronto (416-408-4357) — 24/7 emotional support.
- Health811 (dial 8-1-1) — free confidential nurse advice, including questions about Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID).
- WoodGreen crisis outreach (65+) — on-call intervention for older adults with dementia, substance use, or mental illness, daily 9–5.
- Canadian Hearing Society, Toronto Deaf Seniors' Centre & CNIB Deafblind Centre — support for seniors 55+ with hearing/vision loss.
Practical tips for accessing services
Quick-reference: key numbers
| Need | Contact |
|---|---|
| Emergency (danger to life) | 911 |
| General navigation, 24/7, 150+ languages | 2-1-1 (call or text) |
| Seniors crisis & service line | 416-217-2077 |
| Home care & LTC applications | 310-2222 / 1-833-515-1234 |
| Free legal advice (civil, 30 min) | 1-855-255-7256 |
| Dementia & caregiver support | 416-322-6560 |
| Loneliness / just want to talk | 1-855-892-9992 |
| Emotional distress / crisis, 24/7 | 416-408-4357 |
| Suicide crisis | 988 (call or text) |
| Free nurse health advice, 24/7 | 8-1-1 |
| Supportive housing applications | 416-338-8888 |
Sources
All sources accessed July 2, 2026. Service details change often — call first to confirm hours, intake, and availability before travelling.
- Ontario Health atHome — Government of Ontario
- Guaranteed Income Supplement — Government of Canada
- Advocacy Centre for the Elderly — ACE
- Alzheimer Society of Toronto — Alzheimer Society
- Seniors Services & Long-Term Care — City of Toronto
Reflects publicly available program information as of mid-2026. Eligibility rules, benefit amounts, and intake change regularly — always confirm current details with the agency, especially income-tested benefits (GIS/GAINS) and LTC waitlists.