Care transitions: moving between home, hospital and care

Moving a parent from hospital to home, from home to a retirement home, or into long-term care is one of the hardest parts of caregiving. These guides explain each step in Ontario, who to call, and what it costs.

The one number to know: Ontario Health atHome, 310-2222 (no area code needed). It arranges home care, short stays and long-term care applications across Ontario, at no charge.

Hospital to home

• Leaving hospital
  Discharge planning, what to ask, help at home and your options if you disagree.
• Convalescent, transitional and restorative care
  Short-term recovery care when someone isn't ready to go straight home.

Hospital to long-term care

• Long-term care: applying and waiting
  How applying from hospital works, including the rules for patients waiting in hospital.

Home to a retirement home

• Moving into a retirement home
  Signs it's time, applying, choosing a home and the first 30 days.
• Downsizing and the family home
  Sorting belongings, move managers and selling the family home.

Retirement home to long-term care

• Retirement home vs long-term care
  The differences, when to apply, and how to time the move.

A break for the caregiver

• Respite care
  In-home respite, day programs and short stays, and what each costs.