Home Services for Seniors
Home Services for Seniors
This program provides snow shoveling, grass cutting and housekeeping services for seniors living with low income.
The services are designed to support seniors who face challenges with mobility, lifting and other physical activities, which can make it hard for them to keep their homes clean, maintain their grass and shovel snow. The program assists seniors to improve their quality of life while they remain comfortable at their homes.
There is no direct charge to clients receiving any service. Service costs are recovered on behalf of clients eligible for the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program and are billed to the Government of Alberta on the client’s behalf.
What are the services offered?
The program offers snow shoveling, grass cutting and housekeeping services. The City of Calgary contracts service providers to deliver these services. Each client is matched with a service provider based on where they live within Calgary.
Snow shoveling
Snow shoveling services are provided during the winter season following a snowfall event of at least 1 inch or 2 cm of accumulation of snow. The City continuously monitors snowfall across the city and our service providers will be dispatched to shovel snow.
The service providers will use either a plastic snow shovel or a snowblower.
Services include shoveling snow from:
- City sidewalks,
- Adjacent City pathways,
- Path to the front door
- Wheelchair ramps or lifts, and
- Driveways to client’s property.
- If your waste carts (blue, green and black) and/or your garage entrance is in the back alley, a pathway from your back door to the alley is included in snow shoveling services.
Please note: Program staff will confirm with clients the areas of their property that will receive snow shoveling services.
Services do not include shoveling snow from:
- Decks and patios,
- Alternate entryways, and
- Backyard paths or alleys, if waste and recycling collection takes place at the front of the property.
Please note: Ice removal services are not included. Calgarians can access free pickle ice melt at Calgary Fire Stations for use on their property.
Grass cutting
The grass cutting season runs from May to September each year. Services are provided every two weeks during the grass cutting season. The frequency of services during September will change to once every three weeks and will be assessed according to weather.
The service providers will only use a lawnmower to cut grass. No other tools will be used.
Services include grass cutting of:
- Front lawns,
- Back lawns, and
- Medians associated with the property.
Services do not include:
- Trimming,
- Raking/leaf removal,
- Tree pruning,
- Seasonal (i.e., spring/fall clean-ups),
- Weeding, or
- Other lawn beautification activities.
Housekeeping
Services include:
- Dusting surfaces in main living areas,
- Vacuuming and mopping,
- Kitchen cleaning, and
- Washroom cleaning.
Services do not include:
- Laundry (i.e., washing, drying and folding clothes), or
- Dishwashing (i.e., cleaning dishes, pots and pans, etc.).
Cleaning supplies:
- Clients are responsible for providing their own cleaning supplies. This ensures that the cleaning supplies used align with a client’s personal preferences and any specific health or environmental needs.
- The assigned service provider will provide clients with a detailed list of the cleaning supplies needed to complete house cleaning tasks.
Service frequency:
- Housekeeping services are scheduled for two hours every three weeks.
Who is eligible?
This program provides services to seniors who are:
- 65 years and older,
- Live in Calgary, and
- Qualify for the Government of Alberta’s Special Needs Assistance for Seniors (SNA) program.
The City of Calgary will use your Personal Health Number to verify your eligibility for the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program.
How to apply
To be referred to the Home Services for Seniors program, complete a Fair Entry application and select snow shoveling, grass cutting, housekeeping for seniors 65+. The following information is required with your application:
- Proof of Calgary residency document.
- Proof of age document.
- Personal Health Number. If you are married, a Personal Health Number is only required for the eldest spouse - make sure to include it in the application. The eldest spouse must sign the Fair Entry application.
- Contact information (phone, email or alternate contact). If you require translation assistance, you may indicate this in your application and specify the language you speak.
Please note: The Government of Alberta sets income eligibility for snow shoveling, grass cutting and housekeeping services. Meeting Fair Entry income eligibility is not required to receive snow shoveling, grass cutting and housekeeping services.
If you are interested in applying for other Fair Entry subsidy programs, additional documents may be required.
Visit calgary.ca/fairentry for information on how to apply for Fair Entry.
Next steps
The following steps will be completed after your referral from Fair Entry:
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The City submits your Personal Health Number to the Government of Alberta to verify you are eligible for the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program. |
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If you are eligible for these services, The City will contact you within 2 weeks to:
If you need support with translation, please let us know which language you speak’ to ‘Let us know how you would like to be contacted (e.g., email, phone, mail), and if you need translation support, please specify your preferred spoken language |
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Request additional information that may be required, such as:
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Once all required information is received you will be assigned a service provider based on where you live in Calgary.
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Contact us
If you have any questions or concerns regarding snow shoveling, grass cutting, housekeeping services for seniors 65+, please call 311 and ask to speak with the Home Services for Seniors program or email us at HSS@calgary.ca.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does it take for my application to be processed?
Fair Entry processing times vary – please refer to Fair Entry for application processing times. Please contact 311 and request Fair Entry if you have questions regarding the status of your application.
My Fair Entry letter says 'referred’ for snow shoveling, grass cutting and housekeeping for seniors 65+, but no one has called me within 2 weeks.
Please call 311 and ask to speak with the Home Services for Seniors program or email us at HSS@calgary.ca
How are these services paid for?
The Government of Alberta provides support to seniors living with low-income. The City of Calgary works with the Province to recover some of the costs for your snow shoveling, grass cutting, or housekeeping.
- Once service delivery begins, service providers will bill The City of Calgary for services provided.
- The City of Calgary will bill the Government of Alberta on your behalf to recover the costs of the services delivered. Costs to receive these services are covered by the Government of Alberta’s Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program.
The Government of Alberta will send you a monthly detailed statement of services paid out of your Special Needs Assistance for Seniors benefit.
I am living with a disability but am not 65 years of age or older. Do I still qualify or are there any other programs that can assist me?
The program only accepts clients who are eligible for the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program, which requires clients to be at least 65 years of age.
If you are living with a disability, Alberta Health Services’ Client Directed Home Invoicing may be an option for you. Please visit Client Directed Home Care Brochure or call 811 for more information.
Am I eligible if I live with family?
Acceptance into the program is based on eligibility for the Government of Alberta’s Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program. As long you meet the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program requirements and live in Calgary, you are eligible for these services.
If you have questions regarding your eligibility for the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program, please call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992.
I have been told that I do not qualify for the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program, who can I contact?
The Government of Alberta determines eligibility for the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program. To request an explanation or review of the information used to determine your eligibility for the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program, call the Alberta Supports Contact Centre at 1-877-644-9992. For more information on appeals, visit Special Needs Assistance for Seniors (SNA) program.
I am not eligible for Fair Entry’s other programs because of my income. Am I still eligible for Home Services for Seniors?
Income eligibility for snow shoveling, grass cutting and housekeeping for seniors 65+ is determined by the Government of Alberta. For more information on eligibility, please refer to our eligibility section. |
I received a letter from Fair Entry stating that I have been approved. Does this mean I will start receiving services?
No. Fair Entry completes an initial eligibility review and sends a referral to the subsidy program that delivers the service to determine any further eligibility screening requirements.
Do I have to re-apply for this program every year?
If you were previously accessing these services and would like to receive them again, please call 311 and ask to speak with the Home Services for Seniors program or email us at HSS@calgary.ca.
I was advised by the Government of Alberta that I now qualify for the Special Needs Assistance for Seniors program. How do I re-apply for the program?
If you are now eligible for the Special Needs Assistance program and want to resume snow shoveling, grass cutting and/or housekeeping services, please contact 311 and ask to speak with the Home Services for Seniors program or email us at HSS@calgary.ca.
Can I have the same person provide snow shoveling and/or grass cutting services each time?
Service providers assign staff to provide services. We cannot guarantee that the same person will always provide your snow shoveling and/or grass cutting services.
Can I choose who delivers services to me?
No. The City assigns service providers to deliver services. Each client is matched with a service provider based on where they live in Calgary.
Can I access some services with The City of Calgary and keep my private contractor for other services and bill directly to the Government of Alberta? For example, can I receive snow shoveling from The City and purchase my own grass cutting services to bill to my Special Needs for Seniors benefit?
No. If you are receiving snow shoveling, grass cutting or housekeeping services through The City of Calgary, you cannot submit claims directly to the Government of Alberta for privately purchased snow shoveling, grass cutting or housekeeping services.
What if I need snow shoveling services immediately?
Please call 311 and ask to speak with Home Services for Seniors program or email us at HSS@calgary.ca
I have moved addresses. Do I need to notify anyone?
Yes, please call 311 and ask to speak with the Home Services for Seniors program or email us at HSS@calgary.ca to advise of your address change.
If you are receiving grass cutting and/or snow shoveling services, a new Property Service form will need to be completed to ensure that the service meets your needs at the new property.