Daily Living
Home Care in PEI: Staying Independent Longer
PEI's Home Care Program is the single entry point to almost every in-home senior support, from nursing visits to urgent respite through UREST. Access starts with one referral form, not a hospital or nursing home application.
1. One Program, Many Services
Home Care in PEI is the umbrella program covering everything between living fully independently and moving into long-term care. It's also, by design, the single entry point to long-term care admission, so even if you eventually expect to need a nursing home, this is where the process starts.
2. What's Actually Included
| Service | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Nursing care | Health monitoring, IV therapy, injections, wound and ostomy care, chronic disease management |
| Home support | Help with daily activities like bathing and dressing |
| Occupational therapy | Advice on safely performing daily tasks, assistive devices, home modification recommendations |
| Physiotherapy | Maintaining mobility, function, and independence |
| Social work | Individual and family counselling around illness, loss, or end-of-life issues |
| Dietitian services | Nutrition assessment and education |
| Facility respite | Scheduled temporary breaks in a respite bed for caregivers who need rest (daily fee applies) |
| Palliative care | Comfort-focused support for clients with a life-threatening illness, plus bereavement support |
| Hospital liaison | A coordinator supporting a safe, prompt return home after a hospital stay |
3. How to Actually Get Started
There's no complicated intake process, just one form: the Home Care Referral Form, submitted to your local Home Care office. A referral can be made by:
- You yourself
- A family member
- A caregiver
- Your family doctor or nurse practitioner
A coordinator then reviews your situation and assesses eligibility based on your actual health status and existing support network, there's no fee to apply, and no fee for most core services.
4. When You Typically Qualify
- You need support to keep living safely at home
- You've just been discharged from hospital and are recovering from surgery or an acute medical issue
- You have an ongoing health condition that now requires more care than you or your family can reasonably provide
5. Urgent Situations: Ask About UREST
For a caregiver who's about to burn out, or a personal-care need that can't wait for regular scheduling, ask specifically about the Urgent Respite and End of Life Support Team (UREST). It's designed for requests that need a response within 3 days, either as a one-time bridge or until a regular Home Care schedule can be arranged.
6. Contact
General inquiries: 902-368-6130. Referral forms can be submitted through any of the five regional Home Care offices (Charlottetown, Summerside, O'Leary, Montague, Souris), listed in the companion Long-Term Care article.