Carefirst provides a full range of comprehensive community support services:

• Health Care related Support Services
• Community Support services
• Social/Educational Program
• Volunteer Development & Training
• Youth Volunteer Program
• Community Outreach Program
• Chronic Disease Self-Management Program
• Carefirst Vocational Training Centre

Homemaking/Home Help Services

A Carefirst volunteer can escort the client to the medical appointment and assist in the interpretation. Please contact the Carefirst Volunteer Development Unit to make arrangements.

You can contact Carefirst’s Transportation Unit to make arrangements.

Carefirst has an Elder Abuse Prevention Program to provide prevention education and casework counselling for the victims of elder abuse, in addition to the Chinese hotline (416-502-2321).

Carefirst offers the Chinese Bereavement Services that specializes in offering professional and supportive services to Chinese bereaved individual and families in a culturally sensitive environment. Our services include:

• Support Groups for the Chinese Bereaved
• Individual and family counseling
• Education seminars and workshops
• Friendly visiting for the Chinese bereaved
• Support network
• Provision of culturally appropriate bereavement information

Carefirst’s Social & Community Development Program provides a variety of programs for active seniors at our service centers. These include interest classes, health education and disease prevention workshops, festivity celebrations, birthday parties, excursions, chronic disease self-management program workshops and community orientation.

Carefirst provides outreach programs across the GTA, especially to underserved areas such as Scarborough East, North York and Mississauga, where Chinese seniors have minimal access to community resources. Programs are offered at locations easily accessible by the Chinese seniors residing in the neighbourhood. These include senior apartments, libraries, community centers and churches.

No, but you may become a Wellness Member ($25 annually) to enjoy membership benefits when enrolling in any of Carefirst’s social programs.

To become a wellness member, please contact the Wellness Coordinator according to your preferred geographical area: Scarborough & North York — Tel: 416-502-2323 ext. 6229 York Region — Tel: 905-771-3700 ext. 223 South Toronto — Tel: 416-585-2013 Mississauga — Tel: 905-270-9988

Volunteers play a significant role in Carefirst and make our programs and services possible. The volunteers may take part in direct service delivery such as escorting seniors, delivering meals, friendly visiting, outreaching, and group works; or may participate in administration work such as clerical duty and fundraising.

Accordion Sample DescriptionAny person who is a permanent, legal resident of Canada and 59 years of age or older can apply. This includes Canadian citizens, landed immigrants, and convention refugees/claimants. To get the application form or for any inquires, you can call the Housing Connection directly at (416) 981-6111.

To qualify for the monthly Old Age Security pension you must:

• Be 65 years of age or older
• Be a Canadian citizen or legal immigrant
• Be a Canadian resident for 10 years after the age of 18
• Submit the necessary documents
• Complete and sign the application.
• To get the application form or for any inquires, you can call the Income Security Program 1-800-277-9914.

You are automatically eligible for Ontario Drug Benefits if you are 65 or older, and live in Ontario, and have a valid Ontario Health Card. You should apply for the $2 Co-payment if: Your net income is less than $16,018 (for a single senior) Your combined income is less than $24,175 (for a couple) You can get the application form at any drug store. For any inquires, you can call the Drug Programs Branch of the Ministry of Health at 1-800-405-0405

In order to apply for citizenship:

• You must have been in Canada for four consecutive years,
• Within this four-year period, applicant must have lived in Canada for at least three years or 1095 days,
• Applicant must not leave Canada for more than six consecutive months,
• Applicant must stay in Canada no less than 183 consecutively during each arrival,
• The four-year period is calculated from time of application to the immediate four years prior.
• To get a form, you can call Citizenship and Immigration Canada at 1-800-242-2100. or click this web site Citizenship and Immigration Canada

You are eligible for a Canada Pension Plan retirement pension if you have made at least one valid contribution (payment) to the Plan and:

• You are at least 65 years of age; or
• You are between the ages of 60 and 64 and have substantially or completely stopped working.
• You can pick up the application form at any Human Resources Development Canada office or you can also order an application kit by calling 1-800-255-4786.

In order to qualify to move into a long-term care facility, a person must:

• Be 18 years of age or older;
• Possess a valid Ontario health Card;
• Have health care needs that cannot be met with any combination of caregiving or community-based services in the home; and
• Have health care needs that can be met in a long-term care facility.
• Application for admission into a government-regulated long-term care facility can only made through a Community Care Access Centre. You can call or visit the regional offices for details and inquires.

Anyone who:

• has an Ontario Health card, has a medical condition that can be treated at home or in the community
• needs support to manage at home and in the community

To apply, you do NOT need an order from your doctor, rather you can refer yourself by calling or visiting the regional Community Care Access Centre of your residence as follow:

• East York: 416-423-3559
• Etobicoke: 416-626-2222
• North York: 416-222-2241
• Scarborough: 416-750-2444
• Toronto: 416-506-9888
• City of York: 416-780-1919