Vulnerable Ontarians Get the Essentials They Need to Stay Safe at Home During COVID-19

For Immediate Release

Government taps Ontario Community Support Association to coordinate $11 million investment to facilitate access to meals, medicines, and more for seniors and others at risk

TORONTO, April 21, 2020 – The Government of Ontario announced today that the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) will be leading an announced $11 million program to coordinate and subsidize deliveries of meals, medicines and other necessities to low-income seniors and people with disabilities in need, such as those who lack family or community connections, or are in supportive housing environments and community-based independent living programs.

OCSA will work with businesses, volunteer organizations and non-profits to make it easier for Ontario's most vulnerable people to receive the meals, medicine, and other essentials they need to stay safe at home. The new program will leverage Caredove’s state-of-the-art referral network, which is already used by 600+ organizations across Ontario to create trusted networks of care partners with secure and easy-to-use tools. It will also support the expansion of Meals on Wheels programs to under-serviced communities.

“Ontario is committed to protecting the health and well-being of seniors and people with disabilities during this time, said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “Our partnership with the Ontario Community Support Association will harness the power of the Ontario spirit to ensure food, medicines and other necessities are available to those in need while they stay home.”

“Our members are continuing to serve their communities with compassion and commitment as the COVID-19 pandemic unfolds,” says Deborah Simon, CEO of Ontario Community Support Association, which represents home care services, Meals on Wheels and congregate dining programs, transportation, and other community support services. “We’re already seeing creative collaborations emerging at the local level to solve local issues. This program will deliver an immediate boost of support and resources into expanding and coordinating the level of care needed to meet the unprecedented demand and keep people well and safe at home.”

More Ontarians need support now than ever. The Ontario Community Support program will roll out leveraging existing services, assisting agencies to onboard new volunteers, and finding additional resources needed to provide enhanced support to vulnerable individuals.

“Home and community care is key to getting Ontario through this crisis,” says Simon. “We’re delighted to be working with the Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility to make sure services can continue and expand at this critical time.”

Every year, the home and community support sector provides care to over one million people in their homes or in the community, helping them live independently in safety and comfort. In 2018-19, Meals on Wheels delivered 2,945,119 meals to 49,229 Ontarians.

To identify a local Meals on Wheels provider and request service, eligible seniors and persons with disabilities, their caregivers, neighbours or families should visit www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca.

Those without Internet access, or who require services in languages other than English or French, can dial 211 or 1-877-330-3213 (toll free). TTY service is also available by calling 1-888-340-1001.

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About OCSA

Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) represents close to 230 not-for-profit organizations that provide home care and community support services that help seniors and people with disabilities live independently in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. These compassionate and cost-effective services improve quality of life and prevent unnecessary hospitalizations, emergency room visits and premature institutionalization. They are the key to a sustainable health care system for Ontario.

For more information, visit www.ocsa.on.ca and https://twitter.com/OCSAtweets.

For interviews and information requests please contact:

Janice Bedore - Executive Assistant to Deborah Simon
Ontario Community Support Association
416-256-3010 ext. 231
Janice.bedore@ocsa.on.ca

More Updates

Nearly 700 Ontario Patients Waiting in Hospital for Home Care and Community Supports, Says OCSA

By Karla Sealy • June 30, 2026

Toronto, ON – June 30, 2026 – Nearly 700 Ontarians are currently waiting in hospital for home care or community support services to be arranged before they can safely return home, according to data available from Ontario Health. The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) says the figures demonstrate the growing urgency of investing in the services that make aging at home possible. These findings come as new data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) highlight ongoing emergency department pressures across Canada and as more than 45,000 Ontarians remain on long-term care waitlists in the community. Together, these numbers point to a fundamental shift occurring across Ontario's healthcare system: more people are living longer at home, often with increasingly complex needs, while demand for community-based care continues to outpace available capacity. "Ontario has entered a new era of healthcare," said Lori Holloway, Chief Executive Officer of OCSA. "For years we've talked about aging at home as a goal. Today, it is the reality. More than 45,000 people are waiting for long-term care in the community, and nearly 700 patients are waiting in hospital for the home care and community support services needed to return home safely. The question is no longer whether Ontario needs more community capacity. The question is how quickly we can build it." Ontario's not-for-profit home care and community support organizations provide the services that make aging at home possible, including home care, transportation, Meals on Wheels, assisted living, caregiver supports, adult day programs, wellness services and hospital-to-home programs. Without these supports, seniors are more likely to remain in hospital longer, experience avoidable health crises, or require earlier admission to long-term care. “Community care is increasingly becoming healthcare's pressure valve," said Holloway. "Every hospital bed occupied by someone waiting for community services tells us the same thing: the demand for aging-at-home supports is growing faster than the system's ability to provide them. If we want to improve hospital flow, reduce pressure on emergency departments and help people remain independent longer, we need to accelerate investment in community capacity." OCSA is calling for continued investments in home care, community support services, caregiver supports; not just service volume increases but the necessary infrastructure funding to ensure Ontario can meet the needs of a rapidly aging population. "Ontario has made important investments across hospitals, long-term care and home care," Holloway added. "The next phase of healthcare transformation must focus on building the aging-at-home capacity that will determine whether our health system can meet future demand." For more information: Karla Sealy Manager, Advocacy, Policy and Community Engagement karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca 416-256-3010/1-800-267-6272, ext. 242

Ontario Community Support Association Pre-Budget Submission 2026

By Karla Sealy • May 6, 2026

Ontario's health system is at a crossroads. Nearly one in five Ontarians is over age 65, more than 2.5 million people are without access to primary care, and hospitals face persistent Alternate Level of Care (ALC) pressures. Meanwhile, long-term care (LTC) waitlists exceed 48,000 people and are projected to grow. The most cost-effective and compassionate solution is to invest in a comprehensive suite of services including community support services, home care and independent living services, which allows people to remain in their homes and communities while reducing system pressures.

Meals on Wheels Ontario and SPCA Partner to Help Seniors Care for Their Pets at Home

By Karla Sealy • April 9, 2026

Ontario, Canada — April 1, 2026 — The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) and the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society (Ontario SPCA) are launching a new partnership to support seniors and their pets by delivering pet food alongside Meals on Wheels deliveries. This collaboration brings together community support providers and animal welfare services to address a practical challenge faced by many older adults—accessing pet food due to limited mobility, fixed incomes, or transportation barriers. By leveraging existing Meals on Wheels routes, volunteers can now also deliver pet supplies donated by the Ontario SPCA during their regular visits. The initiative is being introduced through an initial pilot with a small group of participating providers, including Meals on Wheels Sudbury, and Meals on Wheels Cornwall, which has already completed its first pet food deliveries to local seniors. “Meals on Wheels programs do far more than deliver food, they are a vital connection point into the community,” said Lori Holloway, CEO of OCSA. “This partnership reflects how organizations can work together to respond to real, everyday challenges seniors face. It’s a practical example of how community-based care supports the whole person, not just clinical needs.” “Pets are family, and we know the positive impact they have on people’s mental and emotional health,” said Jennifer Bluhm, VP, Community Outreach, Ontario SPCA and Humane Society. “This partnership helps remove barriers so seniors can continue to enjoy the companionship of their pets.” The program is already making an impact at the community level, with local providers seeing firsthand how small supports can improve quality of life for clients. “Pets can play a powerful role in reducing the isolation many seniors experience,” said Tammi Lear, Executive Director, Meals on Wheels Sudbury. “Meals on Wheels Sudbury is excited to partner with the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society to help keep our seniors healthy, connected, and able to remain in their homes with their pets.” “Meals on Wheels Cornwall is proud to be the first organization to pilot this program with the Ontario SPCA,” said Andree-Ann Morin, Meals on Wheels Coordinator, Glen Stor Dun Lodge. “This pilot program recognizes that food security doesn’t stop with the individual — it includes the pets who bring comfort and companionship. Thanks to the Ontario SPCA, we’ve already been able to help clients who were struggling with the cost, access, and special dietary needs of their pets. Even with just a few clients so far, we’ve seen how removing this worry can improve overall wellbeing.” Evidence shows that pets can reduce loneliness and support mental well-being among older adults. Small, practical supports like this can play an important role in maintaining health, preventing more complex needs over time, and improving client outcomes. This new partnership demonstrates the potential of cross-sector collaboration to better support seniors aging at home, while strengthening connections between health, community, and social supports. OCSA and the Ontario SPCA will continue working together to explore opportunities to expand the program with additional community partners across Ontario. Media Contact: Karla Sealy Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) karla.sealy@ocsa.on.ca 416-256-3010 / 1-800-267-6272 ext. 242 About the Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) The Ontario Community Support Association (OCSA) is the leading voice for home and community care in Ontario, representing hundreds of not-for-profit organizations delivering both home care and community support services across the province. OCSA members provide essential services including nursing, personal support and therapies; Meals on Wheels, transportation, caregiver supports, and other programs that help people remain safely in their homes and communities. Serving over one million Ontarians each year, OCSA works with government and system partners to advance integrated, community-based care as a cornerstone of a sustainable health system. About the Ontario SPCA and Humane Society The Ontario SPCA and Humane Society is a registered charity that has been operating for more than 150 years. The organization provides care, comfort, and compassion to animals in need in communities across Ontario, and works to keep pets and people together through a variety of community support services, education, and animal wellness initiatives.