Independent senior home support worker

Adult children and families paying privately for a parent, and seniors paying for themselves. Some clients may have funding through a provincial program or a private insurance plan.

Hourly rate per visit, often with a minimum visit length. Regular weekly clients give steady income, and you can charge more for evenings, weekends or specialized needs such as dementia support.

• Patience and empathy
• Reliable and trustworthy
• Basic first aid and safe lifting
• Clear communication with families

• Rules on private home care differ by province, so check with your provincial health ministry whether you need any registration or licence
• Stick to tasks you are trained for, since medical care and some personal care may be restricted, so confirm what is allowed
• Commercial general liability insurance, and ask whether bonding is worth having since clients trust you with their home and belongings
• Register as a sole proprietor, and check GST/HST rules and how to report your income
• Emotional and physical strain, and winter driving to visits

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $500 to $2,500, depending on training you choose, insurance and how you find clients. Basic first aid and safe lifting training are useful skills to budget for.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,200 to $5,500, depending on how many hours you work and the rates you charge. Emotional and physical strain and winter driving to visits are worth planning for.

Check with your provincial health ministry whether you need registration or a licence, as rules differ by province. Also confirm which tasks you may do, since medical and some personal care may be restricted, and check insurance, bonding and GST/HST rules.