In a publicly funded long-term care home, the province pays for the nursing and personal care, and the resident pays a charge for accommodation (room and meals) that the province sets, usually with a lower rate for residents with low income. Private care at home, retirement residences and private facilities cost far more because the resident pays for everything. This page sets out the public charges, what drives the other costs, and how families pay. It is part of our estate planning guide, and the sitewide list of cost guides is in what things cost in Canada.
Types of care
| Type | Level of care | Who pays |
|---|---|---|
| Publicly funded home care | Part-time personal care, nursing and therapy at home, after an assessment | The province, with co-payments in some provinces |
| Private home care | Personal support workers, nurses or live-in caregivers hired directly or through an agency | The family, by the hour or day |
| Retirement residence or assisted living | Independent or supported living with meals and services | The resident; see retirement home costs |
| Long-term care home (publicly funded) | 24-hour nursing and personal care | The province for care; the resident for accommodation, at a provincially set rate |
| Private long-term care | 24-hour care outside the public system | The resident |
A retirement home is a housing choice for people who are mostly independent, with care bought as needed; a long-term care home is for people who need 24-hour nursing, is regulated as health care, and is reached through the provincial placement process, often with a waitlist.
Resident charges in publicly funded long-term care homes
Each province sets the maximum a resident pays for accommodation.
Ontario sets maximum co-payments for long-term care homes. Effective July 1, 2026:
| Accommodation | Daily | Monthly |
|---|---|---|
| Long-stay basic | $70.00 | $2,129.17 |
| Long-stay semi-private | $84.40 | $2,567.17 |
| Long-stay private | $100.01 | $3,041.97 |
| Short-stay | $45.31 | Not applicable |
Source: Ontario, “Paying for long-term care”. Residents in basic rooms whose income is low can apply for a rate reduction.
Alberta sets the maximum resident accommodation charge in type A and B continuing care homes. Effective August 1, 2026, for one resident:
| Room type | Daily maximum |
|---|---|
| Shared room | $71.85 |
| Private room | $83.05 |
| One-bedroom suite | $99.45 |
| Multi-bedroom suite | $114.45 |
Source: Alberta, “Continuing care accommodation charges”. In supportive living, the operator sets the charge.
Other provinces set their own charges, and most tie them to the resident’s income: British Columbia charges a share of after-tax income between a minimum and a maximum, and Quebec’s CHSLD contribution depends on the room and on income and assets. The provincial health ministry or the local health authority publishes the current rates and how to apply for a reduction.
Home care and private care
Publicly funded home care starts with an assessment by the local health authority or home care agency, which sets the hours and services; costs to the family range from nothing to an income-tested co-payment, depending on the province. Care beyond what the public program provides is bought privately, by the hour from an agency or a personal support worker, or as a live-in arrangement. The cost depends mostly on the number of hours, the level of the worker (a personal support worker or a nurse), nights and weekends, and the city. Home modifications such as grab bars, ramps, stairlifts and bathroom changes are a separate one-time cost; the federal home accessibility tax credit and some provincial programs help with them.
Waitlists
Placement in a publicly funded long-term care home goes through the provincial or regional placement office, and waits depend on the region, the home chosen and how urgent the need is. Families often use home care, private care or a retirement residence while waiting.
How families pay for long-term care
| Source | Notes |
|---|---|
| Government pensions | CPP (up to $1,507.65 a month for a new pension at 65 in 2026), OAS (up to $762.50 at 65 to 74 and $838.75 at 75 and over) and, for low incomes, GIS (up to $1,138.90) |
| Workplace pensions and RRIF withdrawals | RRIF minimums still apply; see RRSP to RRIF conversion |
| Selling the home | Often the largest source for private care; downsizing is covered in downsizing for retirement |
| Family contributions | Adult children sharing costs |
| Veterans’ programs | Veterans Affairs Canada helps eligible veterans with long-term care |
| Insurance | Existing long-term care policies (see below) |
Long-term care insurance
Few insurers still sell new long-term care insurance in Canada: Manulife stopped selling it on November 30, 2017, RBC Insurance in 2012, and Sun Life discontinued Sun Long Term Care Insurance on June 14, 2021, according to the trade publication Insurance Portal. People who already hold a policy can check its monthly benefit, waiting period and benefit period.
Tax relief
| Credit or deduction | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Medical expense tax credit | Eligible long-term care and attendant care costs |
| Disability Tax Credit | A credit for a person with a severe and prolonged impairment, transferable to a supporting relative |
| Canada Caregiver Credit | For a relative who depends on you because of an impairment |
| Home accessibility tax credit | Renovations that make a home safer or more accessible for a senior or a person with a disability |
There are limits on combining some of these (for example, claiming full-time care home fees as a medical expense and the Disability Tax Credit together); the medical expense guide explains them.
Planning ahead
| When | Steps |
|---|---|
| Your 50s and 60s | Talk with family about preferences; review any insurance; see the financial guide for your 60s |
| While healthy | Make a power of attorney for property and one for personal care |
| When help is needed | Ask the local health authority for a home care assessment |
| When 24-hour care is needed | Apply for long-term care placement; plan for the wait |
Funerals are the other end-of-life cost families often plan for; see funeral costs in Canada.
Related reading
Sources
The figures and rules on this page come from these sources, last checked against them between September 5, 2026 and September 29, 2026. How we check facts.
- Canada Revenue Agency: CPP contribution rates, maximums and exemptions
- Government of Canada: CPP: How much you could receive
- Government of Canada: Old Age Security pension recovery tax
- Government of Canada: Old Age Security payment amounts
- insurance-portal.ca: Sun Life drops one of its Long Term Care products - Insurance Portal
- insurance-portal.ca: Manulife exits the Long Term Care insurance market - Insurance Portal