The family field guide
A useful answer.
A little less to carry.
For the questions that come with helping an ageing parent. Start with what you need today, and leave the rest for later.
Our hospital-to-home guide, help-at-home plan and memory-concerns guide begin with a few clear next steps.
01 / Explore a question
Help at home & what it costs
Understand the support, compare the quotes and work out what your family can sustain.
Home Care Costs in Ontario: Public Support, Private Quotes and Your Budget
Understand publicly funded home care, compare private quotes and account for minimum visits and extra fees. Build a budget from your family's actual needs.
Read the guidePersonal Support, Nursing, or Companion Care: Which Type of Home Care Do You Actually Need?
A plain language comparison of the three main types of home care, what they cost, and which one fits your situation.
Read the guideWhat to Ask Before Hiring a Home Care Provider
The questions to ask every agency or independent caregiver before you sign anything.
Read the guidePaying for Care: The Money Conversation Without the Sales Pitch
The six layers families should use in order, from public programs to the family home, and the honest case for and against each.
Read the guide
02 / Explore a question
Memory & changes in wellbeing
Prepare for a useful conversation and find the right people to ask.
Worried About a Parent's Memory: How to Get a Real Assessment, Step by Step
What is normal aging and what is not, how the testing works, and why an early diagnosis is worth having.
Read the guideAfter the Dementia Diagnosis: The Support System Nobody Hands You
First Link, day programs, dementia-trained home care, respite, and the safety layer, assembled in the right order.
Read the guideTen Pills a Day: Getting Medications Under Control with Services That Are Already Free
MedsCheck reviews, blister packs, free delivery, and what drugs actually cost after 65 in Ontario.
Read the guideDepression After 70 Is Not Normal Aging: Spotting It and Treating It
Why late life depression hides behind physical complaints, what treatment involves, and what OHIP covers.
Read the guide
03 / Explore a question
The everyday, made more manageable
Transport, meals, getting around and choosing a place to live.
Getting There Without a Car: Every Ride Option for Seniors, from Free to Full Service
Community transport, para-transit, volunteer drivers, and private options, what each costs, and how to actually book them.
Read the guideMeals on Wheels and Everything After: Every Way to Get Good Food to a Senior's Door
Community meal programs, frozen delivery companies, grocery delivery, and dining programs, with real prices.
Read the guideIndependent Living, Assisted Living, Memory Care, or Long-Term Care: What the Labels Actually Mean
The four levels explained in plain language, what each costs in Ontario, and the crucial difference between retirement homes and long-term care.
Read the guideHow to Tour a Retirement Residence: What to Ask, What to Watch, What They Hope You Miss
A former bank compliance professional's guide to seeing past the lobby, with a printable tour checklist.
Read the guide
Keep it practical
Make room for the next step.
Use the free care-cost worksheet, save a short plan or print a checklist to take with you.