Request a conversationChoosing home care · Toronto & the GTA
Choosing a home-care agency is about more than an hourly rate. Understand who will come into your home, how they are supported and what happens when needs change.
Elder Caring Inc. is part of the Integracare family of companies. This guide explains Integracare’s service commitments and the questions to ask when choosing home care.
Expert Care Management
Elder Caring helps you understand needs, weigh options and coordinate support through care management. An aging-in-place assessment can help clarify everyday needs at home.
You do not need to change an agency that is working well for you. Elder Caring can coordinate with your existing providers. When care is provided by Integracare, Elder Caring works actively with the Personal Support Worker and Nurse Care Manager so the care plan, day-to-day support and changes in needs stay connected.
Home care through Integracare
Nursing involvement
A registered nurse visits the home, writes the care plan and updates it. A nurse also answers the phone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
When comparing “nurse oversight,” ask who assesses needs, who reviews changes and who answers your call overnight.
Caregiver education
Integracare’s agreement with the Alzheimer Society provides education in all five facets of dementia care, alongside continuing education throughout the year.
Ask each agency what its training covers, who delivers it and how it checks that caregivers can apply what they learn.
Continuity and backup
Integracare reports caregiver turnover under 20% and a bench of more than 500 caregivers. If your caregiver cannot come, a replacement is offered.
Familiar caregivers can learn a person’s routines and notice changes. Elder Caring’s care manager works with the PSW and Nurse Care Manager to support continuity and keep the plan current.
Your agency checklist
Use these questions to understand the care you are arranging. Integracare’s answers set out its approach to supervision, caregiver support, communication and cost.
Compare policies, not just promises. Use the prompts beside each answer when speaking with any agency.
Explore Integracare’s home-care services ↗Ask who arranges replacement coverage and how you will be told about a change.
Integracare’s answer
A bench of more than 500 caregivers, with a replacement always offered. A visit is missed only if you prefer to wait for your regular caregiver.
What to compare
Ask whether replacement care is guaranteed, offered subject to availability, or left for the family to arrange.
Understand the cancellation window before agreeing to a schedule.
Integracare’s answer
Four hours’ notice to cancel a visit.
What to compare
Some published cancellation policies require 24 hours’ notice. Confirm the notice period and any charges in your service agreement.
Ask about screening, liability insurance and workplace coverage.
Integracare’s answer
Caregivers are employees, with vulnerable sector police checks, liability insurance and WSIB coverage.
What to compare
Confirm whether caregivers are employees or independent contractors, and who is responsible for screening, insurance and workplace coverage.
Find out who assesses needs, writes the care plan and reviews changes.
Integracare’s answer
A registered nurse visits the home, writes the care plan and updates it.
What to compare
Nursing involvement can mean different things. Ask whether a nurse visits, writes the care plan, supervises caregivers and reviews changes.
Know how to reach support outside office hours.
Integracare’s answer
A nurse answers 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with nurse-supervised coverage around the clock.
What to compare
A 24-hour phone line does not by itself explain who answers. Ask whether families reach a nurse and how urgent care concerns are handled.
Ask about staff turnover and how the agency supports continuity for your family.
Integracare’s answer
Integracare reports caregiver turnover under 20%, compared with approximately 79% in Activated Insights’ 2024 benchmark. See the source note below.
Benchmark source & context ↓Industry benchmark
Activated Insights’ 2024 industry benchmark reports 79.2% turnover, approximately 79%. It is a historical industry benchmark, not a GTA agency average.
Source: Activated Insights, 2024 Benchmarking Report.
Ask what happens after onboarding and how training fits the person’s needs.
Integracare’s answer
Continuing education throughout the year, including dementia training.
What to compare
Distinguish initial orientation from continuing education. Ask about training topics, frequency and how learning is applied to your family member’s care.
Ask for details about education, supervision and relevant experience.
Integracare’s answer
An exclusive agreement with the Alzheimer Society to educate caregivers in all five facets of dementia care. Approximately 40% of clients live with dementia; nurse care managers have dementia expertise.
What to compare
Ask which dementia education program caregivers complete, what it covers and how the care team adapts support as needs change.
Distinguish certifications, awards and memberships, and ask to see current details.
Integracare’s answer
ISO 9001:2015 certification; Great Place to Work recognition for six years running; an Excellence Canada Business Excellence Award; membership in Home Care Ontario and the Canadian Home Care Association.
What to compare
Request current documentation and check its scope. Accreditation, quality certification, memberships and workplace awards measure different things.
Ask how schedules, caregiver changes and visit updates are shared.
Integracare’s answer
The Family Room online portal shows the schedule, who is coming and a note after every visit.
What to compare
Ask whether the family can see the schedule, caregiver details and visit notes, and how concerns reach the care manager.
Request a written quote covering minimum hours, taxes and any additional charges.
Integracare’s answer
The Elder Caring preferred rate is $39.80 per hour plus applicable HST—$3 below the posted rate—for day, night and weekend care. Ask Integracare to confirm eligibility, current pricing and any tax exemption.
What to compare
Compare written quotes for the same care needs and schedule, including taxes, minimum hours and additional charges.
Check whether the schedule suits both the person’s needs and your budget.
Integracare’s answer
A four-hour minimum per visit. Discuss the frequency and timing that fit your situation.
What to compare
Some published policies specify a four-hour minimum; others require a local quote. Ask about minimums per visit and per week.
Integracare’s quoted figure of under 20% is company-reported. Activated Insights’ 2024 benchmarking summary reports 79.2% home-based care turnover, rounded to 79% above. This is a historical industry benchmark, not a measured GTA average. Reporting periods and calculation methods may differ.
Service details and preferred pricing are drawn from Integracare’s September 2026 Toronto and Mississauga checklist. Confirm current terms with Integracare before arranging care.
Take the questions with you
Download the worksheet with Integracare’s answers and blank columns for two other agencies. Keep your notes together as you compare.
Download the agency checklist ↗Ready for home care?
Ask about a registered nurse’s home visit, at no charge and with no obligation, to discuss the support you need.
Explore home care with Integracare ↗Related support
Let’s take the next step
Share a little about your situation and how we can reach you.
We’ll discuss your needs and help identify the right support. Any paid service is agreed with you before it begins.
Prefer to speak with us?
416-658-8887Or toll-free 1-866-473-8887