What is Family-Managed Home Care (FMHC)?
Family-Managed Home Care, also called self-directed care, is an Ontario Health atHome program. Instead of Ontario Health atHome sending a care agency, eligible patients (or their substitute decision-maker) receive funding directly and use it to hire their own caregivers or to buy services from an agency they choose.
Families get more choice and control: they pick the caregivers, decide when care happens, and direct how the care plan is delivered. In return, they take on the administrative work.
Who can apply?
A person must first be assessed by Ontario Health atHome, meet the eligibility rules for regular home care, and have a care plan. FMHC is designed for:
- Children with complex medical needs
- Adults with acquired brain injuries
- Eligible home-schooled children
- Patients in extraordinary circumstances, as assessed by Ontario Health atHome
The family member who will manage the funding is also assessed to make sure they can handle the responsibilities, and must sign a legal agreement with Ontario Health atHome.
What families are responsible for
- Finding, hiring, scheduling and supervising caregivers
- Running a separate bank account for the program funds
- Paying caregivers or agencies, and running payroll
- Arranging insurance
- Keeping records and sending regular financial reports to Ontario Health atHome
Funding covers only the services in the approved care plan. Ontario Health atHome sets the reporting requirements and payment schedule and reassesses care needs regularly.
How to apply
Speak to your Ontario Health atHome care coordinator, or call 310-2222 (no area code needed).
Already approved? Let us handle the paperwork.
The bookkeeping, payroll and reporting are where most families feel overwhelmed. City Healthcare Services can take that work off your plate so you can focus on your loved one.
City Healthcare Services is a private company and is not part of Ontario Health atHome. Eligibility and approval decisions are made only by Ontario Health atHome.