Services in St. John's

The City of St. John's runs a year-round lineup for adults 50 and over: Active for Life fall prevention fitness, Social Time afternoons at rec centres, Lifelong Learners courses, and summer bus tours around the Avalon Peninsula with lunch and admission included. A Seniors in the Community stream brings gentle fitness and games right into seniors' apartment buildings so transportation is not a barrier. Register online through RECconnect or by phone.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Each program has its own line: 709-576-8251 for the seniors tax reduction, 709-576-8594 for seniors programs and bus tours, 709-576-8684 for the recreation subsidy.

This City of St. John's program pays part or all of the cost of city recreation programs for residents who could not otherwise afford them, including older adults on fixed incomes. Support is based on income using Statistics Canada's low income cut-off. Apply any time with proof of residency and your CRA Notice of Assessment; decisions take 7 to 10 business days.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Each program has its own line: 709-576-8251 for the seniors tax reduction, 709-576-8594 for seniors programs and bus tours, 709-576-8684 for the recreation subsidy.

Trained Red Cross volunteers call people age 18 and up on a regular basis just to check in, talk, and share wellbeing resources, an easy way to feel less alone. It is free and available by phone anywhere in Canada, including every city in the GTA. The Canadian Red Cross is a federally chartered registered charity, and this is a public community support service, not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. There is no single phone number across these programs. Families call the specific line: Toronto Transportation and Meals on Wheels at 416-236-3180, Burlington Transportation at 1-844-843-7331 ext 2, Burlington Meals on Wheels at 905-637-5664, or the national Friendly Calls Program at 1-833-979-9779.

St. John Ambulance, one of Canada's oldest registered charities, sends volunteer handlers and their gentle, screened dogs into seniors residences, care facilities, and hospitals for regular visits that ease loneliness and lift spirits. Over 2,500 dog teams volunteer across Canada, and there is one national online form to request visits for a facility or event. This is a charity program, not a government service and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. A seniors residence, care facility, or event organizer requests visits through the national online request form linked from the Therapy Dog Program page, or calls 1-800-989-3787; visits are then arranged with the local volunteer dog teams.

The City of St. John's reduces the property tax bill for lower-income senior homeowners. You qualify if you are 65 or older and receive the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement, or 60 to 64 and receive the Allowance for the Survivor, and the home is registered in your name as your main residence. Apply to the city with a confirmation letter from Service Canada.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Complete the Senior Citizens Tax Reduction Application and include a Government of Canada letter confirming GIS or Allowance for the Survivor (request one at 1-800-277-9914); questions to 709-576-8251.

A Government of Newfoundland and Labrador grant of $400 per household that repays low-income seniors for everyday services like snow clearing, lawn care, house cleaning, grocery and prescription delivery, foot care, dental work, and rides to appointments. Applications run on a yearly cycle with a March 31 deadline.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Apply by email to Aging.Well@nlhealthservices.ca or by mail to NL Health Services Central Zone in Gander; call 709-651-6273 for help. The 2026-27 application was not yet posted as of August 2026.

A Government of Newfoundland and Labrador benefit that pays $400 a month to an unpaid caregiver, such as a family member or friend, who regularly cares for a lower-income senior with high care needs. It recognizes the caregiver's role and helps keep the senior at home.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Download the application from the NL Health Services page and contact the Caregiver Benefit coordinator for your zone (Eastern Urban 709-752-4361); the care recipient needs a current NL Health Services assessment.

An independent office of Newfoundland and Labrador's House of Assembly that speaks up for seniors across the province. It reviews seniors' concerns about provincial programs, identifies systemic problems, and pushes government for change, and any senior or family member can contact it directly.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Call (709) 729-6603 or toll-free 1-833-729-6603, or email SeniorsAdvocate@SeniorsAdvocateNL.ca.

A Government of Newfoundland and Labrador refundable tax credit that pays low-income seniors up to $1,882 a year. There is no application: file your income tax return each year and the money arrives in quarterly instalments with the federal GST Credit payments in January, April, July, and October.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. File your annual income tax return; the CRA pays the benefit automatically. Call (709) 729-3166 with questions.

A free Government of Canada online tool that asks a few quick questions and builds a personal list of federal benefits, with filters for seniors and retirees aged 60 and over and for caregivers. It needs no account or personal identifying information, and it links to your province's own benefits page too.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Use the tool online at benefitsfinder.services.gc.ca; for general help with federal programs call 1 800 O-Canada at 1-800-622-6232.

Canada Revenue Agency credits that cut the tax bill for seniors and the relatives who support them, all claimed on the yearly tax return. They include the age amount for people 65 and older, pension income splitting with a spouse, the medical expense credit that covers attendant care and many home health costs, the Canada Caregiver Credit, the Home Accessibility Tax Credit for up to $20,000 a year of safety renovations, and the Multigenerational Home Renovation Tax Credit, which refunds 14.5% of up to $50,000 spent adding a secondary suite for a senior.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Claim these credits when filing the yearly income tax return, or ask a tax preparer or free tax clinic to check each one; call the CRA with questions.

A Government of Canada tax credit that lowers income tax for people with a severe, long-term impairment, or for the family member who supports them. Long-term conditions that affect everyday life, such as dementia, may qualify. Once approved, the credit can be claimed for past years going back up to 10 years, which can mean a large refund.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply using the CRA's digital DTC application or Form T2201 by mail; a medical practitioner completes the medical part, then the credit is claimed at tax time.

A tax-free Government of Canada payment every three months for people with low and modest incomes, which replaced the GST/HST credit in July 2026 with a 25% higher amount. There is no application; filing your tax return each year, even with no income, automatically signs you up if you qualify.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. File a tax return every year to be enrolled automatically; call 1-800-387-1193 with payment questions.

Free tax clinics supported by the Canada Revenue Agency, where trained community volunteers complete tax returns for people with a modest income and a simple tax situation. Filing every year is what keeps benefits like the Guaranteed Income Supplement flowing, so these clinics matter even when no tax is owed. In Quebec the program runs jointly with Revenu Quebec as the Income Tax Assistance volunteer program.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Find a nearby clinic with the Find a free tax clinic directory on canada.ca; clinic types and dates vary by community organization.

Tax-free monthly Government of Canada payments for people aged 60 to 64 with low income. The Allowance is for the spouse or common-law partner of a senior who gets the Guaranteed Income Supplement, and the Allowance for the Survivor is for someone whose spouse or partner has died. Apply 6 to 11 months before you turn 60, or right away if you are already in this age range.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. You must apply; call Service Canada or apply through My Service Canada Account.

A monthly taxable Government of Canada pension that replaces part of your income in retirement and is paid for life to people who contributed to the CPP while working. You can start it as early as 60 or wait until 70 for a larger amount. If you keep working while collecting before age 70, extra contributions earn a post-retirement benefit that raises your pension each year.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. You must apply; apply online through My Service Canada Account or call. If you worked in another country, international social security agreements may help you qualify.

A monthly taxable Government of Canada benefit for people over 18 and under 65 who cannot work because of a severe and prolonged disability and who contributed to the CPP. People already collecting a CPP retirement pension who become disabled before 65 may qualify for the post-retirement disability benefit instead. At 65 it converts automatically to the regular CPP retirement pension.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. You must apply, and a health care professional completes the medical part of the application; apply through My Service Canada Account or by paper form.

Government of Canada payments to the family of a CPP contributor who has died. The survivor's pension is a monthly payment to the legal spouse or common-law partner, and the death benefit is a one-time payment of up to $5,000 to the estate or the person who paid the funeral costs. Apply as soon as possible after the death, because the survivor's pension can only be back-paid for 12 months.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply online through My Service Canada Account or by mail as soon as possible after the death.

Employment Insurance benefits from the Government of Canada that replace part of your pay while you are away from work caring for someone. The family caregiver benefit covers up to 15 weeks for a critically ill or injured adult, and compassionate care benefits cover up to 26 weeks for a person who needs end-of-life care. You do not have to live with or be related to the person, and eligible caregivers can share the weeks.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply online at canada.ca as soon as you stop work, with a medical certificate for the person you care for; call 1-800-206-7218 for help with a claim.

A tax-free monthly top-up from the Government of Canada for seniors 65 and older who receive the OAS pension and have low income. It is worth checking even if you are not sure you qualify, and you must file your income tax return every year to keep the payments coming.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Many seniors are enrolled automatically and told by letter; if no letter has arrived a month after your 64th birthday, call Service Canada or apply through My Service Canada Account.

A monthly Government of Canada pension for people 65 and older, based on how long you have lived in Canada after age 18, whether or not you ever worked. Many seniors are enrolled automatically and get a letter from Service Canada; if no letter has arrived a month after your 64th birthday, you may need to apply. Years spent in countries that have a social security agreement with Canada can help you qualify.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call Service Canada or apply online through My Service Canada Account; many seniors are enrolled in OAS and GIS automatically and get a letter in the mail around their 64th birthday.

GoBus is the accessible, door-to-door transit service run by Metrobus under the St. John's Transportation Commission, a municipal public agency, for people whose disabilities keep them off regular buses. It serves St. John's and neighbouring Mount Pearl, with service seven days a week into the late evening. Apply with a form partly completed by a healthcare professional, take a short transit assessment paid for by Metrobus, then book rides by phone.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Submit the GoBus application form, with one section completed by a healthcare professional, to Accessible Transit Services at 25 Messenger Drive; a Metrobus-funded transit assessment follows, then registered riders book at (709) 368-8887.

The Canadian Red Cross, a registered charity, lends wheelchairs, walkers, bath safety gear, and other home health equipment to Newfoundland and Labrador residents for about three months while they recover at home, with hospital bed delivery available in some areas. This is a charity service, not a government office and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. A referral from a health care professional is required; call the NL Provincial Office in St. John's at (709) 758-8400.

A Government of Newfoundland and Labrador program that provides basic medical equipment and supplies, such as wheelchairs, walkers, oxygen equipment, and orthotics, to people living at home who meet income rules.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Apply through the NL Health Services intake line for your zone (Eastern Urban 709-752-4835); a financial assessment checks eligibility.

A free information line from Osteoporosis Canada, a registered charity. Trained volunteer counsellors answer questions about bone health, osteoporosis and preventing broken bones, send helpful information and point callers to resources near them. A good call after a fracture or a fall risk warning.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call the toll-free information line at 1-800-463-6842 (in Canada only) and leave a message if no one picks up; a trained volunteer counsellor will help.

Government of Newfoundland and Labrador drug coverage for seniors who receive Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. Enrolment is automatic, and members pay only the dispensing fee, up to $6 per prescription, for covered drugs.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. No application needed; a drug card is mailed automatically once Service Canada confirms you receive OAS and GIS. Call 1-888-859-3535 with questions.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's free, confidential health line. Registered nurses answer 24 hours a day to help you decide what to do about symptoms, answer questions about topics like dementia care, and point you to services, with dietitian and mental health support also available.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Dial 811 any time; call 1-888-709-2929 if 811 does not work from your phone or internet phone service.

A free phone and email information service from Arthritis Society Canada, a registered charity. Trained volunteers answer questions about arthritis, treatment options and coping day to day, and can connect callers with a Peer Listener for one-on-one emotional support.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-321-1433 and press 2 for the Arthritis Line, Monday to Friday in English or French; you can leave a message any time and they aim to reply within 24 hours.

A free helpline from the Canadian Cancer Society, a registered charity. Trained information specialists answer questions about cancer, treatments and side effects, and help find support services and community resources near you, Monday to Friday, with an interpreter service for other languages.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-888-939-3333, Monday to Friday, or use live chat or the online form at cancer.ca; interpreters are available for languages other than English and French.

A free, confidential helpline from Diabetes Canada, a registered charity. Staff answer questions about living with diabetes and managing it day to day, share trusted resources and point callers to programs in their province. They do not give medical advice or make appointments.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464), Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern, or email info@diabetes.ca; conversations are confidential.

A free, confidential information and referral line from Parkinson Canada, a registered charity. Staff give one-on-one help with questions about symptoms, medications and treatment options, and connect people with Parkinson's, their families and care partners to support groups and services in their community.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-565-3000 or email info@parkinson.ca, Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern; the contact page also lists 1-888-664-1974 and support@parkinson.ca for Parkinson's information.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's home support program for seniors who need help with daily living. After a clinical assessment, families choose agency-managed care, self-managed care, or paid family caregiving, covering personal care, housekeeping, meals, and respite for caregivers.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Call the NL Health Services intake line for your zone: Eastern Urban 709-752-4835, Eastern Rural 709-786-5217, Central 1-833-210-8491, Western 1-866-566-3787, Labrador-Grenfell 1-833-284-4751; an income-based assessment decides how much the province pays.

A Veterans Affairs Canada program that pays for housekeeping, grounds maintenance, meal preparation, personal care and other supports so veterans can keep living in their own homes. Some survivors and primary caregivers of deceased veterans can also receive housekeeping and grounds maintenance funding.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call Veterans Affairs Canada at 1-866-522-2122, Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm local time, or apply online through My VAC Account.

A Government of Newfoundland and Labrador program, delivered by NL Housing, that helps lower-income homeowners pay for accessibility changes like ramps, grab bars, and roll-in showers so seniors can stay home longer. Forgivable loans reach $7,500 now and double to $15,000 when the updated program reopens in Fall 2026.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. New applications are paused until Fall 2026 except urgent cases identified by an occupational therapist; call the Avalon office at (709) 724-3196 or your regional NL Housing office to ask about timing.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's route into long-term care homes, which provide 24-hour nursing, and personal care homes, which provide supervision and support. One clinical assessment through NL Health Services starts the placement process, with an income-based subsidy for those who cannot pay the full cost.

Verified by us 2026-08-06. Call your zone's NL Health Services intake line (Eastern Urban 709-752-4835) to request an assessment; the same call covers home support, personal care homes, and long-term care.

A Government of Canada program that helps pay nursing home costs for veterans who need 24-hour personal and nursing care. The veteran pays a capped monthly amount toward room and meals, currently $1,236.90, and Veterans Affairs Canada helps with eligible care costs beyond that.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. The veteran must first be admitted to a long-term care home, then the family applies through My VAC Account online or mails application package VAC1503APe; call 1-866-522-2122 for help.

Canada's suicide crisis helpline, funded by the Government of Canada and led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Call or text 9-8-8 free of charge, any hour of any day, in English or French, whether you are struggling yourself or worried about someone you love.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call or text 9-8-8 at any hour; free, confidential, and no referral needed.

A Government of Canada helpline offering free counselling and crisis support to all Indigenous people across Canada, 24 hours a day, with culturally grounded Indigenous counsellors. Support is available by phone in English and French, with Cree, Ojibway and Inuktitut on request, and by online chat at hopeforwellness.ca.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call 1-855-242-3310 at any hour, or use the online chat at hopeforwellness.ca; no referral needed.

Free one-on-one peer support from The Kidney Foundation of Canada, a registered charity. It matches people living with kidney disease, and their family members, with a trained volunteer who has lived through it themselves, for confidential support by phone.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-866-390-PEER (7337) to speak with a program coordinator, or complete the online request form on the peer support page.

A free stroke recovery program from March of Dimes Canada, a registered charity. An After Stroke coordinator works one-on-one with the survivor and their family, connects them to peer support and support groups, and stays with them from hospital to home and beyond. In-person teams are concentrated in Ontario, British Columbia and Atlantic Canada, with phone and online support across the rest of Canada.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call the After Stroke Support Line at 1-888-540-6666, email afterstroke@marchofdimes.ca, or complete the online form at afterstroke.ca to be matched with an After Stroke coordinator.

A free Veterans Affairs Canada helpline that connects veterans, former RCMP members, their families and caregivers with a mental health professional at any hour, every day of the year. Callers can receive up to 20 hours of confidential counselling and do not need an existing VAC file.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call 1-800-268-7708 any time, day or night (TDD/TTY 1-800-567-5803); no referral or VAC file needed.

The national office of the Alzheimer Society, a registered charity. It is a first point of contact after a dementia diagnosis: staff answer the line Monday to Friday and connect families to the Alzheimer Society in their own province, where local societies deliver the programs such as First Link, support groups and education.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-800-616-8816, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm Eastern, or use the contact form at alzheimer.ca; for dementia programs the national office connects families to their local Alzheimer Society through alzheimer.ca/find.

A program of MedicAlert Foundation Canada, a registered charity, for people living with dementia who may wander or go missing. The subscriber wears a distinctive blue MedicAlert ID, and through the charity's Connect Protect partnership, 9-1-1 dispatchers, police, and paramedics across Canada can pull up the person's health record, wandering history, and caregiver contacts to bring them home safely. This is a charity subscription service, not a government program and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call 1-877-217-7449 to subscribe to Safe & Found, or sign up online at medicalert.ca/safe-and-found; general inquiries 1.800.668.1507, Monday to Friday 9 am to 6 pm Eastern.

The Government of Canada's central fraud reporting service, jointly managed by the RCMP, the Ontario Provincial Police and the Competition Bureau. Seniors and families can call to report a scam, check whether a call or offer is genuine, and learn what to do after money or personal information has been taken.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call 1-888-495-8501, Monday to Friday 10 am to 4:45 pm Eastern time, or report a scam online any time through the reporting system at reportcyberandfraud.canada.ca.

A Government of Canada benefit, administered by Sun Life, that pays much of the cost of dental care for people without private dental insurance, including cleanings, fillings, x-rays and dentures. Seniors of any age qualify if the household income is under $90,000, last year's taxes are filed, and they live in Canada. Applications for the 2026-2027 benefit year are open.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Apply online through My Service Canada Account or Canada.ca, or call Service Canada at 1-833-537-4342 (TTY 1-833-677-6262); a trusted helper can apply with the senior on the line to give consent.

A registered charity that helps Canadians who are blind or partially sighted use accessible technology, through free group and one-to-one training, smartphone apps, and devices like a free smartphone for registered clients. This is a national charity program, not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call the national line or fill out the online contact form at cnib.ca to reach a CNIB program coordinator, who can register you and connect you to programs like Tech and Peer Support, or point you to a referral for vision loss rehabilitation training.

A registered national charity that helps families put end-of-life wishes in writing and understand their legal options. It offers free downloadable Advance Care Planning kits for every province, a support team that answers questions about end-of-life rights and medical assistance in dying, and trained volunteers who serve as the independent witness the law requires on a MAID request, including by video call. This is a charity, not a government agency and not a privately vetted company.

Verified by us 2026-08-07. Call the Support Team at 1-844-395-3640 or email support@dyingwithdignity.ca for end-of-life questions; request an independent witness through the online form, and download free province-specific Advance Care Planning kits from the website.

A Veterans Affairs Canada program, delivered by the nonprofit Last Post Fund, that helps pay funeral, burial and grave marker costs so eligible veterans receive a dignified funeral. Families apply through the Last Post Fund within one year of the veteran's death.

Verified by us 2026-08-05. Call the Last Post Fund at 1-800-465-7113 to apply; applications must be submitted within one year of the veteran's death.