Provincial guide · Nova Scotia

Planning for more care

Nova Scotia Continuing Care coordinates home and community services, long-term care placement, and protection programs. Nova Scotia Health and the Department of Seniors and Long-Term Care publish official intake and complaint pathways.

Province

Guides are available for all provinces and territories. Select where the person needing care lives.

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Nova Scotia at a glance

Where to start

Continuing Care intake line 1-800-225-7225

Local care system: Nova Scotia Continuing Care (home care, residential care, nursing homes)
Self-referral: Yes. Anyone can call Continuing Care for information or referral
Who can request help: The person, family, physician, or hospital team
Main contact: Continuing Care: 1-800-225-7225 (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week)
Assessment: Continuing Care coordinators assess needs for home care, residential care, or nursing home placement

Services and placement depend on assessment outcomes and regional capacity.

What kind of help are you exploring?

Select everything that sounds relevant. Nova Scotia's Continuing Care Program coordinates home care, residential care, and nursing home (long-term care) placement. This tool offers orientation only; it does not determine eligibility.

Help with meals, bathing, dressing, or medicationDay-to-day personal care or reminders that may be hard to manage alone or with current help at home.
Support following an illness or hospital stayRecovery, therapy, or short-term help after a hospital discharge or serious illness.
Supervision because of memory loss or confusionWandering risk, forgetting meals or medication, or needing watchful support for dementia or cognitive change.
A safer living setting with some independenceMore support than at home, but not necessarily 24-hour nursing, for example when stairs, isolation, or falls are a concern.
Nursing care available throughout the day and nightOngoing skilled nursing, complex medical needs, or care that cannot be met safely with periodic visits.
Relief or respite for a family caregiverA break for an unpaid family member or friend who provides most of the day-to-day support.
Help because the current arrangement is no longer safeThe person cannot be supported safely where they live now, even with more home help.
An immediate abuse, neglect, wandering, or safety concernUrgent harm, suspected abuse or neglect, unsafe wandering, or a situation that feels dangerous right now.

Your selections help orient planning. A Continuing Care Program assessment determines which funded services or nursing home placement steps may apply.

Suggested next actions in Nova Scotia

Choose a starting point linked to official Nova Scotia resources. MyEligible does not schedule assessments or submit Continuing Care forms.

Contact Continuing Care

Purpose: Reach Continuing Care intake for home care assessment, residential care, or nursing home placement discussions.
When to use: When any level of Continuing Care support is needed, after hospital discharge, or when comparing home care with residential or nursing home options.
What to have ready: Health card information, medication list, hospital discharge papers if recent, and helper contact details.

Nova Scotia Continuing Care
Overview of home care, residential care, nursing homes, and protection programs.
Nova Scotia Continuing Care
Link verified 2026-08-04

More official sources (1)

Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225
Toll-free intake line for Continuing Care information, referrals, and adult protection reports.
Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225
Link verified 2026-08-04

Open the Nova Scotia caregiver guide

Learn about home care

Purpose: Review how Nova Scotia home care works under the Continuing Care Program.
When to use: When visiting support at home may meet daily needs before considering residential or nursing home options.
What to have ready: Summary of daily care needs and current helpers at home.

Nova Scotia home care
How home care services are arranged through Continuing Care.
Nova Scotia home care
Link verified 2026-08-04

Report abuse or protection concerns

Purpose: Find official adult protection and protection of persons in care reporting resources.
When to use: When abuse, neglect, or mistreatment is suspected. Call 911 first if immediate danger.
What to have ready: Description of the concern, setting (home, facility), and whether emergency services were contacted.

Nova Scotia adult protection
Mandatory reporting when an adult may need protection from abuse, neglect, or self-neglect.
Nova Scotia adult protection
Link verified 2026-08-04

More official sources (1)

Protection for persons in care
Raising concerns about care provided in licensed health facilities and long-term care homes.
Protection for persons in care
Link verified 2026-08-04

Review seniors benefits and tax credits

Purpose: Explore federal benefits that may help with overall care finances (orientation only).
When to use: When planning finances alongside Nova Scotia care options.
What to have ready: Approximate income range and whether the person receives federal seniors benefits.

Explore seniors benefits

A five-step planning journey in Nova Scotia

Start with the step that matches your situation. Open a step for details and official sources.

- List difficult daily tasks: meals, bathing, medication, mobility, and supervision needs.
- Note changes after hospitalization or gradual decline.
- Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger.
- Nova Scotia adult protection
  Mandatory reporting when an adult may need protection from abuse, neglect, or self-neglect.
  Nova Scotia adult protection
  Link verified 2026-08-04
- Nova Scotia's Continuing Care Program coordinates public home care (nursing, personal care, therapy, and equipment). A coordinator assesses daily needs to determine what visiting support may be available.
  Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225
  What happens next: After you contact Continuing Care intake, a coordinator may ask about daily activities, mobility, safety, and help already available at home.
- Residential care offers supervised housing with daily help, not 24-hour nursing.
- Nursing homes provide 24-hour nursing, with a separate assessment and placement process.
- Progression is not always linear; needs and authorized levels can change over time.
- Nova Scotia Continuing Care
  Overview of home care, residential care, nursing homes, and protection programs.
  Nova Scotia Continuing Care
  Link verified 2026-08-04
- Nova Scotia home care
  How home care services are arranged through Continuing Care.
  Nova Scotia home care
  Link verified 2026-08-04
- Nova Scotia long-term care
  Nursing homes, residential care facilities, costs, and application steps.
  Nova Scotia long-term care
  Link verified 2026-08-04
- Bring medication lists, recent hospital records, and details about family helpers.
- Contact Continuing Care intake by phone or through Nova Scotia Health to request an assessment.
  Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225 Nova Scotia Continuing Care
  What happens next: A coordinator may schedule an assessment and discuss home care, respite, equipment, residential care, or nursing home placement.
- Coordinators assess functional needs and caregiver support.
- Assessment does not guarantee immediate nursing home placement.
- Approved home care services are publicly funded; hours reflect assessed need.
- Residential care may have subsidized rates based on assessment and income.
- Nursing home residents contribute to accommodation costs per provincial rules.
- Federal seniors benefits may help with overall finances. See MyEligible seniors benefits guide.
- Nova Scotia Health: Continuing Care
  Health authority information on Continuing Care programs and contacts.
  Nova Scotia Health: Continuing Care
  Link verified 2026-08-04
- Home care begins after assessment approval, not automatically on first contact.
- Nursing home placement follows assessment, authorization, and wait times.
- Hospital discharge may include short-term support. Confirm what happens when it ends.
- Protection concerns should be reported through official paths separate from care applications.
- Nova Scotia Continuing Care
  Overview of home care, residential care, nursing homes, and protection programs.
  Nova Scotia Continuing Care
  Link verified 2026-08-04
- Nova Scotia long-term care
  Nursing homes, residential care facilities, costs, and application steps.
  Nova Scotia long-term care
  Link verified 2026-08-04

Nova Scotia care settings, a continuum, not a ladder

Nova Scotia's Continuing Care Program covers home care, residential care facilities, and nursing homes (long-term care). People may receive more home support, move to residential care, or need a nursing home, progression is not always linear. Progression is not always linear. Some people remain at home with increasing home care; others move from residential care to a nursing home when needs grow. Compare assessment levels, costs, and who coordinates before choosing a direction.

Who it may suit: People who can stay at home with visiting support, short-term post-hospital help, or periodic nursing.
Typical services: Personal care, nursing visits, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and equipment.
Funding: Publicly funded when approved after Continuing Care assessment.
Who assesses: Continuing Care coordinators assess needs and authorize service plans.
How to start: Contact Continuing Care intake through Nova Scotia Health or the Continuing Care phone line.
Common misunderstanding: Approved hours reflect assessed need, home care is not unlimited upon request.

Nova Scotia home care
How home care services are arranged through Continuing Care.
Nova Scotia home care
Link verified 2026-08-04
Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225
Toll-free intake line for Continuing Care information, referrals, and adult protection reports.
Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225
Link verified 2026-08-04

Compare Nova Scotia settings at a glance

Use this table for orientation only. Confirm assessment levels, fees, and steps on official Nova Scotia Health pages.

Setting	Support level	Nursing	Funding	Assessment	Best contact	Official starting point
Home care	Visiting personal care and nursing based on assessed need	Periodic nursing visits, not 24-hour onsite nursing	Publicly funded when approved after assessment	Yes. Continuing Care assessment required	Continuing Care intake or Continuing Care phone line	Official starting point
Residential care facility	Supervised housing with meals and daily personal care	Personal care supervision, not 24-hour nursing home care	Subsidized rates may apply based on assessment and income	Yes. Continuing Care assessment determines level	Nova Scotia Health Continuing Care program	Official starting point
Nursing home (long-term care)	24-hour nursing and personal care in a licensed nursing home	24-hour onsite nursing and supervision	Public long-term care with resident accommodation contributions	Yes. Continuing Care assessment and placement required	Continuing Care intake for assessment and placement	Official starting point
Protection reporting	Adult protection and persons in care, not a care setting	911 for immediate medical emergencies	N/A, separate from Continuing Care applications	N/A, use adult protection or persons in care reporting	Nova Scotia adult protection and persons in care resources	Official starting point

Support level: Visiting personal care and nursing based on assessed need
Nursing: Periodic nursing visits, not 24-hour onsite nursing
Funding: Publicly funded when approved after assessment
Assessment: Yes. Continuing Care assessment required
Best contact: Continuing Care intake or Continuing Care phone line

Nova Scotia home care
How home care services are arranged through Continuing Care.
Nova Scotia home care
Link verified 2026-08-04
Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225
Toll-free intake line for Continuing Care information, referrals, and adult protection reports.
Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225
Link verified 2026-08-04

Official sources

These pages are maintained by government agencies and regulators. MyEligible mirrors links for navigation only.

Nova Scotia Continuing Care
Continuing Care program overview and intake.
Authority:
Nova Scotia Continuing Care
Province:
Nova Scotia
Last verified:
2026-08-03
External official page
Nova Scotia home care
Home care services under Continuing Care.
Authority:
Nova Scotia Continuing Care
Province:
Nova Scotia
Last verified:
2026-08-03
External official page
Nova Scotia long-term care
Nursing home and long-term care placement information.
Authority:
Nova Scotia Continuing Care
Province:
Nova Scotia
Last verified:
2026-08-03
External official page
Nova Scotia Health: Continuing Care
Health authority Continuing Care contacts and programs.
Authority:
Nova Scotia Health
Province:
Nova Scotia
Last verified:
2026-08-03
External official page
Nova Scotia adult protection
Adult protection reporting for abuse or neglect.
Authority:
Nova Scotia Continuing Care
Province:
Nova Scotia
Last verified:
2026-08-03
External official page
Nova Scotia Health: protection for persons in care
Protection for persons receiving care in licensed facilities.
Authority:
Nova Scotia Health
Province:
Nova Scotia
Last verified:
2026-08-03
External official page

This guide helps you prepare and find the correct official pathway. It does not assess eligibility, make placement decisions, or replace advice from a health authority or care coordinator.

This is not an eligibility test

Last reviewed: August 2026

Nova Scotia at a glance

What kind of help are you exploring?

Suggested next actions in Nova Scotia

Contact Continuing Care

Nova Scotia Continuing Care

Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225

Learn about home care

Nova Scotia home care

Report abuse or protection concerns

Nova Scotia adult protection

Protection for persons in care

Review seniors benefits and tax credits

A five-step planning journey in Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia adult protection

Nova Scotia care settings, a continuum, not a ladder

Nova Scotia home care

Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225

Compare Nova Scotia settings at a glance

Nova Scotia home care

Call Continuing Care intake: 1-800-225-7225

Official sources