Home Care for an Elderly Parent in Edmonton: Who to Call First
For home care for an elderly parent in Edmonton, call Continuing Care Access at 780-496-1300 (or Health Link 811) to request a free assessment. Publicly funded professional and personal care has no fee. If you need more hours than are assessed, add a private home care agency.
Quick answer: Call Edmonton Zone Continuing Care Access at 780-496-1300, or Health Link 811, and ask for a home care assessment for your parent. Anyone in Alberta with a valid provincial health card can be assessed (AHS), and AHS charges no fee for the professional and personal care services it provides. If your parent needs more hours than the assessment gives, add a private home care agency in Edmonton on top.
Who to call, by situation
| Situation | Who to call |
|---|---|
| You want publicly funded home care for a parent in Edmonton | Continuing Care Access, 780-496-1300 |
| You are not sure what kind of help is needed | Health Link 811, any time, or email continuingcare@ahs.ca (AHS) |
| You need more hours than are funded, or want to choose the caregiver | A private agency — compare home care providers in Edmonton |
| A day program or respite to give the family a break | Ask Continuing Care Access, or see adult day programs in Edmonton |
| A concern about care in a licensed home | Continuing Care Licensing Office complaints, 1-888-357-9339, option 3 (Alberta.ca) |
| An emergency | 911 |
What happens after you call
Continuing Care Access takes the referral and arranges the assessment. A case manager looks at what your parent can and cannot do safely at home and sets the services and hours. Through the same line AHS handles home care, day programs, equipment and supplies, continuing care homes and palliative care, so one call covers more than nursing visits (AHS).
When to add a private agency
Funded hours follow assessed need, and many families find they want more: overnight help, companionship, or a regular caregiver they pick. That is where a private agency fits. Before you sign, read how to choose a home care provider, and compare at least two agencies in our Edmonton home care listings. If your parent is assessed as eligible, Alberta's Client-Directed Home Care Invoicing program can let you choose your own provider for approved hours — see our CDHCI guide.
What it costs
Publicly funded professional and personal care in home care has no fee. Private agencies charge by the hour and set their own rates and minimum visit lengths, so ask each one for both. Our cost of senior care in Alberta guide has sourced ranges for home care and every other option.
If staying at home is no longer safe
The same assessment is the door to publicly funded continuing care homes. Read signs it's time for more care and how Alberta's continuing care system works.
Phone numbers and program names were checked against Alberta Health Services and Alberta.ca on 6 October 2026. Alberta is moving continuing care to a new agency, Assisted Living Alberta, so confirm a number before you rely on it.
Frequently asked questions
Who do I call for home care for an elderly parent in Edmonton?
Is home care free in Alberta?
Do I need a doctor's referral for home care in Edmonton?
What if my parent needs more home care hours than AHS provides?
Find the right care for your family
Answer a few quick questions and we'll match you with providers in your area — free, no obligation.
This guide is general information for Alberta families, not medical, legal, or financial advice. Costs are orientation estimates from public sources and vary by provider. Always confirm details directly with providers and Alberta Health Services.
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