Home care in Barrie comes in two main forms: publicly funded care arranged by Ontario Health atHome, and private care you arrange and pay for yourself. Many families use both. This guide explains how each one works, how to apply, and how to decide what your parent needs.
Your home care options in Barrie at a glance
When a parent in Barrie starts to need help at home, most families have three paths:
- Publicly funded home care through Ontario Health atHome. If your parent qualifies, the province pays for the services in their care plan.
- Private home care from a company you choose. You decide the hours and the schedule, and you pay for it.
- Community support services, such as meal programs, transportation and adult day programs. Some of these have a fee or a co-payment.
These are not either-or choices. A family might get a few publicly funded PSW visits a week and add private help for evenings, weekends or nights.
Publicly funded home care: how it works
Ontario Health atHome is the provincial organization that arranges publicly funded home and community care. At the time of writing (November 2026), Ontario’s home care page lists services such as:
- Nursing
- Personal support, like help with bathing, dressing and eating
- Physiotherapy and occupational therapy
- Speech-language therapy and social work
- Help with healthy eating
- Homemaking
The same page says that if you qualify, the Ontario government pays for home care. Home care is for people of all ages. Seniors and people with chronic conditions, palliative needs, care needs after a hospital stay, or long-term disabilities may qualify.
How to apply
- Call Ontario Health atHome at 1-833-515-1234. You can call for yourself or for a family member. Your doctor or another health care worker can also make a referral.
- Have an assessment. A care coordinator looks at your parent’s needs and decides if they are eligible. They may visit the home.
- Get a care plan. If your parent qualifies, the care coordinator works with you to build a plan based on their needs and goals.
- If they don’t qualify, you may be referred to other local services.
If your parent is in Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), ask the care team about home care before discharge. Ontario Health atHome says its services can help people get back on track after a hospital stay.
Private home care in Barrie: when families add it
Publicly funded care follows a care plan. It may not cover every hour your family needs. Private care fills the gaps. Families in Barrie often add private help when:
- A parent needs someone overnight, or for long stretches of the day.
- The family caregiver needs a break, or works shifts.
- A parent needs a ride and a companion for appointments.
- Someone is in hospital and the family wants a sitter at the bedside.
- Care needs to start before the public assessment is done.
With private care, you choose the schedule. It can be a few hours a week of PSW care, regular visits from a nurse for nursing at home, or respite and overnight care.
Ontario’s home care page notes that you can pay for your own care through private companies. It also describes family-managed home care, where some eligible people get funding to hire a provider they choose. At the time of writing, that option is for specific groups, such as children with complex medical needs and adults with an acquired brain injury.
How to decide what your parent needs
Start with a simple list. Write down what your parent finds hard each day. For example, a family in Painswick might notice that Dad is fine in the morning but struggles to cook supper and gets confused after dark.
Then ask:
- Is it personal care? Bathing, dressing, toileting and moving safely are PSW tasks.
- Is it medical? Wound care, injections or managing many medications may need a nurse. Talk to your parent’s doctor or care team.
- Is it memory? If your parent has dementia, look for caregivers with dementia care experience.
- When is help needed? Mornings, evenings, nights or around the clock?
- How much can family do without burning out?
Bring this list to the care coordinator assessment. It helps them see the full picture. It also shows you where private care might fit.
Questions to ask any home care provider
Whether care is public or private, it’s fair to ask:
- Are your staff screened, including police and vulnerable sector checks?
- Are your nurses registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario?
- Will my parent see the same caregivers most of the time?
- How do I know visits happened, and for how long?
- Who do I call if a caregiver is sick or late?
- Can the schedule change if my parent’s needs change?
Common questions
Can I use publicly funded and private home care at the same time?
Yes. Many families keep their publicly funded services and add private hours for the times the care plan doesn’t cover.
Do I need a doctor’s referral for home care in Barrie?
No. Ontario Health atHome says anyone can make a referral, including you. A doctor or hospital team can also refer your parent.
What if my parent lives just outside Barrie?
The same steps apply. Call Ontario Health atHome to ask about publicly funded care. For private care nearby, see our pages for Innisfil and Alliston.
Need home care in Barrie?
Bamwan Health Care Services provides private PSW care, nursing, dementia care, respite and overnight care, and hospital sitters at RVH, from our office in Alliston. Our staff are screened, including police and vulnerable sector checks, and our nurses are registered with the College of Nurses of Ontario. Each visit is checked in and timed in the Bamwan app, and you confirm the hours. Learn more about home care in Barrie.
Request care or call (416) 831-7506, any time.