Home care allows seniors to stay in their own homes longer by bringing support services to them. It ranges from light housekeeping help to nursing care and personal care visits. This page covers what's available in Calgary and how to access it.

AHS Home Care

Alberta Health Services provides funded home care based on assessed need. This is the starting point for most families. An AHS case manager assesses the individual's needs and determines what services are funded.

How to access: Contact the AHS Home Care line: 1-800-268-3750

Website: alberta.ca/home-care

What AHS home care may include:

  • Personal care (bathing, dressing, toileting)
  • Nursing visits and assessments
  • Occupational therapy consultation
  • Physiotherapy
  • Meal programs and nutrition support
  • Caregiver respite services

What AHS home care does NOT include:

  • Housekeeping beyond personal care needs
  • Companionship visits
  • Transportation
  • Grocery shopping or meal preparation

Private Home Care Services

Private home care agencies supplement or replace AHS services. They often fill the gaps that publicly funded care doesn't cover, and can provide services more frequently or on shorter notice.

Typical costs: $25–$45 per hour depending on the type of service and the agency. Not covered by AHS or provincial health plans; cost is paid privately.

Common private services:

  • Homemaker support (housekeeping, laundry, meal prep)
  • Medication reminders
  • Companionship and social visits
  • Transportation assistance
  • Overnight supervision
  • Post-hospital or post-surgery support

Many families use a combination of AHS-funded care for medical needs and private care for daily living support.

When Is Home Care the Right Choice?

Home care is appropriate when:

  • Daily tasks (bathing, medication, meal prep) become difficult but the person can still live safely at home with support
  • Recovering from hospital discharge or surgery
  • Managing a chronic illness while remaining at home
  • Providing respite for family caregivers who are burning out
  • The person prefers to stay home rather than move to a care facility

When Home Care Isn't Enough

Home care reaches its limits when:

  • Care needs exceed what can safely be provided at home (e.g., 24-hour medical supervision)
  • 24-hour supervision is required due to dementia, fall risk, or safety concerns
  • The physical home cannot be safely adapted (narrow doorways, stairs, no accessible bathroom)
  • There's no one available to coordinate care or handle emergencies
  • The cost of home care (especially private) exceeds the cost of facility care

This is often the trigger for a housing transition. When home care stops working, families start exploring 55+ buildings, assisted living, or care facilities. That's where Kenton steps in.

The Real Estate Connection

When a senior's care needs exceed what home care can provide, and the family home needs to be sold, that's where Kenton's SRES® training becomes valuable. He understands these transitions specifically — not just the logistics of selling, but the emotional weight and the urgency involved.

Helpful Resources