
The Ontario Patient Bill of Rights
As a patient, family member, substitute decision maker or caregiver, you have the right to expect that every Home and Community Care Support Services employee, Board member and contracted health service provider shall respect and promote your rights as follows:
- To be dealt with in a respectful manner and to be free from physical, sexual, mental, emotional, verbal and financial abuse.
- To be dealt with in a manner that respects your dignity and privacy, and that promotes your autonomy and participation in decision-making.
- To be dealt with in a manner that recognizes your individuality and that is sensitive to and responds to your needs and preferences, including preferences based on ethnic, spiritual, linguistic, familial and cultural factors.
- To receive home and community care services free from discrimination as per the Human Rights Code or the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
- A patient who is First Nations, Métis or Inuk has the right to receive home and community care services in a culturally safe manner.
- To receive clear information about your home and community care services in a format that is accessible to you.
- To participate in the assessment and reassessment of your needs, as well as the development and revision of your care plan.
- To designate a person to be present with you during assessments, and to participate in the development, evaluation and revisions to your care plan.
- To receive assistance in coordinating your services.
- To give or refuse consent to the provision of any home and community care service.
- To raise concerns or recommend changes related to the services that you receive, and with policies and decisions that affect your interests, without fear of interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal.
- To be informed of the laws, rules and policies affecting the delivery of the home and community care services, including this Patient Bill of Rights, and to be informed, in writing, of the procedures for initiating complaints about the services you are receiving.

Treatment of Staff
Circle of Care strives to create a safe, compassionate, and inclusive environment for all clients, staff, and volunteers. Circle of Care clients and their families (caregivers) are expected to treat all volunteers, office staff, and frontline staff with respect and dignity. Circle of Care will not accept disrespectful behaviours or comments of discrimination, including racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or ableism towards any clients, staff or volunteers.
Therapeutic Relationships
What is a healthy therapeutic relationship?
A healthy therapeutic relationship is a caring professional relationship between a client and their healthcare providers. A therapeutic relationship is client-centered, is focused on the client’s wellbeing, and has defined boundaries. Clear professional boundaries create safety for both clients and staff, establishing clear roles for care.
How will Circle of Care staff work to maintain therapeutic relationships?
All Circle of Care staff will act professionally and respectfully towards clients at all times while maintaining the appropriate boundaries of the client-healthcare provider therapeutic relationship. Staff members will explain the Care Plan to the client at the beginning of their service and will provide compassionate and professional care in alignment with this plan.
Circle of Care clients and their families are expected to treat all staff with respect and dignity and should not develop inappropriate levels of social or emotional intimacy with their care providers, and should not have a social relationship with staff outside of their professional duties.
Warning Signs to Identify Non-Therapeutic Relationships
All relationships between clients and Circle of Care staff should be strictly therapeutic in nature. Clients and staff members should not engage in personal social relationships and must avoid all boundary violations in order to avoid conflict between professional healthcare and social, sexual, religious, or business relationships which would interfere with the provision of care.
Warning signs of a damaged therapeutic relationship may include:
- Having workers perform or asking workers to perform services that are not outlined in your Care Plan.
- Any type of abuse from or towards workers; including physical, emotional, sexual or financial.
- Exploitation of the worker-client relationship.
- Verbal abuse including the use of intimidation tactics or threats.
- Accepting or offering gifts or personal invitations.
- Having a social relationship or spending time with your worker outside of service provision.
- Taking photos or videos without explicit consent.
If you believe there to be a breach in the therapeutic relationship between you and your care providers, call Circle of Care to report the issue. We can address any concerns and help set appropriate boundaries.
I want to learn about...
- How to share a compliment or complaint
- Privacy and safety of my health information
- How to qualify for more hours of care
- What to do if my PSW is late
- Protocols about Pets and Smoking
- What to do if my needs change and I need more help
- Service fees and managing costs
- Services on statutory holidays
- Circle of Care's position on Health Equity and Diversity
- Circle of Care's position on Accessibility
- Circle of Care's Policy on Gifts
Privacy and safety of my health information
Circle of Care will collect your Personal Health Information during the assessment process to determine which services and supports will be most appropriate for you. Personal Health Information may include:
- Your name, address, and phone number
- Your physical and mental health
- Your personal health history
- Issues that you are experiencing
Your information will be shared with staff providing service, as well as other organizations involved in your care. This information cannot be used for any other purposes without your permission.
If you have agreed to share your Personal Health Information, it will be used to:
- Provide you with care and assistance based on your needs
- Make sure your service providers have the most up-to-date and complete record of your health history and needs
- Help us see where there might be gaps or overlaps so we can ensure you are getting the proper support and services
As a client, you have the right to:
- Have your personal health information kept confidential, unless legally mandated
- Access your personal health information
- Request a correction of incomplete or inaccurate information contained in your health record
- Share your information with your Care Team
Privacy and Security
Client privacy is a top priority at Circle of Care. We collect clients’ personal health information under the authority of the Personal Health Information Protection Act, 2004 (PHIPA). All Circle of Care staff and volunteers sign a confidentiality agreement and are educated on protecting client privacy and compliance with Ontario’s privacy legislation. In addition, strict security and audit controls are in place to ensure your information is viewed only when required.
If you would like to know more about how your personal health information is handled and shared please call 416-635-2860 and ask to speak to the Privacy Officer, or read our page about Privacy.
For more information about your privacy rights, or if you were unable to resolve a problem directly with our agency, contact the Privacy Commissioner of Ontario at 416-326-3333 or 1-800-387-0073.
How to qualify for more hours of care
Care that is funded by the government or a third-party agency is based on an in-person assessment of needs. If your needs have changed over time, please contact your Client Services Supervisor (CSS) who can assist you in contacting the appropriate organization. At any time, clients may also choose to pay for additional hours. For current service rates, call 416-635-2860.
What to do if my PSW is late
If you are awaiting the arrival of your PSW, please remember that your visit has been scheduled to allow your PSW to arrive 15 minutes before or 15 minutes after the appointment time. Many of our PSWs depend on public transportation to get to client visits, so this window provides flexibility for their safe arrival.
Protocols about Pets and Smoking
At Circle of Care, the health and safety of our staff is of the utmost importance. For this reason, we ask that when our staff are in your home that you make arrangements to place pets securely in another room for the duration of the visit. We also ask that all clients and caregivers refrain from smoking at a minimum of 2 hours prior to your scheduled visit. While our staff members are in your home, there should be no smoking under any circumstances.
What to do if my needs change and I need more help
Circle of Care offers a variety of services and supports to help you live independently at home, including: Personal Support, Exercise & Fall Prevention Classes, Transportation, Kosher Meals on Wheels, Day Centre for Seniors with Alzheimer’s & Dementia, Caregiver Support and Visiting Hospice. Call us at 416-635-2860 to learn more.
Service fees and managing costs
We believe the cost of care should not be a barrier to getting support that is needed.
For those who are eligible for government-funded care, a number of our services can be obtained at no cost through agencies such as Home & Community Care Support Services (formerly called the LHIN), or the City of Toronto. There are also supports and services available for eligible Holocaust survivors and veterans. We can help you find your way, and advocate on your behalf to access these benefits.
Circle of Care also offers subsidies for services that include:
- Personal care and homemaking
- Meals on Wheels
- Transportation
- Adult Day Program
For clients or family members who are not eligible for government-funded care, services can be purchased. (Click here to view our current service fees.)
Do not let concerns about cost stop you from inquiring about services. Please contact us to find out about how you or your loved one can afford to stay at home.
Services on statutory holidays
Services and programs including Personal Support, Kosher Meals on Wheels, Transportation, and Adult Day Program are generally not provided on statutory holidays. In some situations, exceptions to this rule may be made depending on the complexity of a client’s needs.
Circle of Care’s position on Health Equity and Diversity
At Circle of Care, we recognize, respect and celebrate the valuable differences that each of us bring to our organization and to the community.
Circle of Care is dedicated to a health equity focus in all aspects of its operation including:
- fostering a positive and respectful work environment that is free from harassment for all our employees, students and volunteers;
- providing an inclusive working environment where everyone feels valued and respected
- respecting the diversity and dignity of every employee, volunteer, client and caregiver;
- providing equitable and accessible services for clients and their caregivers.
Diversity includes, but is not limited to, age, gender, ethnicity, physical and mental disabilities, sexual orientation, race, nationality, marital and/or parental status, lifestyle, religion, and education.
Circle of Care’s position on Accessibility
In 2005, the government of Ontario passed the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act or “AODA”. It is the goal of the Ontario government to make Ontario accessible by 2025. The Integrated Accessibility Standards Regulations (“IASR”) under the AODA, require that Circle of Care establish, implement, maintain and document a multi-year accessibility plan which outlines the Agency’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers for people with disabilities and to meet its requirements under the IASR.
Circle of Care is committed to treating all people in a way that allows them to maintain their dignity and independence. We believe in integration and equal opportunity. Circle of Care is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment for our employees, clients and volunteers.
We are committed to:
- Ensuring equal access and participation for people with disabilities.
- Meeting the needs of people with disabilities in a timely manner.
- Meeting our accessibility requirements under AODA.
- Customer Service Standards
We Want to Hear From You
Please tell us how we are doing providing service to people with disabilities. Feedback can be made using the following methods:
Mail:
Circle of Care
attn: Human Resources
4211 Yonge Street, 4th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M2P 2A9
Phone:
Telephone: (416) 635-2860
Fax:
Fax: (416) 635-1692
Email:
accessibility@circleofcare.com
Circle of Care’s Policy on Gifts
Circle of Care discourages employees from accepting gifts or favours from clients that are offered in gratitude for services rendered or anticipated. At the same time, Circle of Care acknowledges that employees and volunteers may, from time to time, develop relationships with clients arising from the nature and duration of assistance provided by the employee/volunteer. In the event a gift of gratitude is made by a client to an employee/volunteer, it the responsibility of the employee/volunteer to inform their Manager/ Supervisor prior to accepting the gift. It is the responsibility of the Manager/ Supervisor to contact the client and/or family to acknowledge the gift and provide next steps.
If a client or family member would like to honour a staff member for their excellent work, we ask that you submit a Champions of Care nomination. You may also choose to make a donation to Circle of Care in honour of the worker.
Stay Connected to Your Care with EZ Assist
Our new app, EZ Assist, allows clients or family members to securely log in from their phone and view real-time information about upcoming appointments, cancel appointments, and see confirmation that visits have taken place. Our app is an added peace of mind for caregivers who live a distance from their loved one.
Lend your Voice to our Client and Family Caregiver Advisory Council
Strengthening the voices of patients and families in their own health care planning is one of the tenets of Ontario’s Patients First legislation. Our recently launched Client and Family Caregiver Advisory Council was designed to gather feedback, perspective and collaboration from clients and family members that will help drive quality improvement within our organization.

Sinai Health's Dementia Advisor App
Unsure about how to respond to a spouse, parent, or grandparent with dementia? The Dementia Advisor App, developed by Sinai Health’s Reitman Centre, is a mobile app that helps family caregivers learn how to deal with difficult situations, improve communication, and gain problem solving skills. It can be downloaded for free for both iOS or Android devices.
Health Education from Sinai Health
Sinai Health’s Healthy Ageing and Geriatrics Program is at the forefront of leading and innovation in the care of older Canadians. Our affiliation with Sinai Health gives us access to this remarkable resource. The Older People’s Education and Navigation Strategy (OPENS) initiative seeks to provide reliable information to older adults, caregivers, families, and health care professionals on topics that lead to healthy aging.
Click each box to explore these resources.