Eligible Seniors in Northumberland County can Apply

Free In-Home Health Services Provided for Long-Term Care

Editor’s Note: Northumberland Paramedics’ Community Paramedicine programs deliver non-emergency in-home health care directly to residents in need. These preventative care programs support vulnerable community members and seniors in the community, while also helping to manage the high demand for emergency services, hospitals and clinics.

Eligible seniors who live in Northumberland County and are in need of care can apply for free in-home health services from the Northumberland Paramedics Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care.

Our services

  • 24-7 access to health services (phone services available 24/7, onsite services available 6 a.m. to midnight)
  • Non-emergency home visits
  • In-home testing procedures, including:
    • 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECG)
    • oxygen saturation tests
    • blood draws (for homebound individuals with barriers to in-home lab work)
    • blood glucose readings
    • weight measurements
    • international normalized ratio (INR) and i-STAT blood tests(coming soon)
    • mobile ultrasounds (coming soon)
    • urinalysis
  • Monitoring of vital signs to prevent escalation of chronic medical conditions
  • Assessments, referrals, diagnostic procedures, point-of-care testing

Our team

This program is delivered by a dedicated and friendly team of certified paramedics that have received up to 100 hours of additional training in areas such as:

  • Geriatrics
  • Comorbidities (multiple conditions in a patient at the same time)
  • Lab work and point-of-care testing
  • Medication interactions
  • Mental health
  • Palliative care
  • Blood draws

How to access our services

There are a number of ways we receive referrals to our Community Paramedicine programs:

  • Home and community care support services
  • HKPR District Health Unit
  • Family physicians
  • Community and social service providers working with vulnerable communities
  • Northumberland Paramedics delivering 911 services
  • Direct referrals for our Long-Term Care program from senior citizens or those who care for them

Please note we hope to expand the program to accept direct referrals from a broader range of community members in the future.

Hear from our patients

Many of our patients have shared their positive experiences with the Community Paramedicine program:

“My experience has been extremely positive. The medical checkups I have received through the program have provided me with a sense of security, and reduced my reliance on 9-1-1 services. The Community Paramedics have a very prompt response time. It is clear that they love what they do and wish to perform at their best. I appreciate the connections I have formed with paramedics through this program.”

“This program has helped keep my Mom out of the hospital. Since we have been on the program she has improved, her anxiety is down, and she is doing much better since her medication change and being at home.”

“I have a secure feeling being connected to this program, the paramedics are always informative and helpful.”

“Saved me from repeated trips to the hospital and family doctor—the lifeline I needed to quick help and guidance.”

Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care Program

Our Community Paramedicine for Long-Term Care program provides free in-home health care to eligible seniors in our community. Please refer to our list of services for more information about the types of care we can provide.

Who can apply

This program is available to older adults who live in Northumberland County and are:

  • Currently on a waitlist for long-term care
  • Eligible or soon to be eligible for a long-term care waitlist

How to apply

We’re accepting client referrals!

You can refer yourself or someone you care for (a family member, neighbour, friend, etc.) by calling client services at 1-833-718-1942 or by completing our online form:

Refer yourself or a family member

Health care providers can also refer patients to the program using our online referral form, the Ocean eReferral system or by fax at 905-373-8567.

Program history

The expansion of the Community Paramedicine for Long-term Care program to the Northumberland area was announced in November 2021, with additional funding announced in February 2022 to support the program until 2024. Throughout spring/summer 2022, the program progressively expanded their intake and launched full-scale operations in fall 2022.

This program is funded by the Province of Ontario.

content Northumberland County