Best Caregiver Agencies in Canada (Private vs. Public 2026)

In Canada, we are facing a "Grey Tsunami." As the population ages, the demand for caregivers has exploded.

But for the workers on the front lines—Personal Support Workers (PSWs), Health Care Aides (HCAs), and Nannies—the industry is a minefield.

There is a massive divide in how caregivers are treated.

On one side, you have Public Sector organizations (funded by the government) where staff are unionized, paid $24 to $28 per hour, and paid for their travel time between clients.

On the other side, you have "Discount" Private Agencies that charge families $35/hr but pay their staff minimum wage, offering zero benefits and zero travel pay.

If you are a caregiver, who you work for determines whether you live in poverty or build a stable career.

Whether you are a newcomer looking for LMIA sponsorship or a certified PSW looking for a pension, here is the definitive guide to the best caregiver agencies in Canada for 2026.

Part 1: The Public Sector (The "Gold Standard")

These organizations are funded by provincial governments. They prioritize patient care over profit.

1. VON Canada (Victorian Order of Nurses)

Status: Non-Profit / Charity

Best For: Stability & Benefits

The Role: Visiting clients in their homes to provide personal care, wound management, or palliative support.

The Pay: $22.00 – $26.00 per hour (Plus mileage reimbursement).

Why it wins:

• Unionized: Most VON sites are unionized (e.g., ONA or SEIU), meaning you have guaranteed wage increases and job security.
• The Pension: Access to comprehensive pension plans.
• Travel Pay: unlike many private agencies, VON pays you for the kilometers you drive and the time spent driving between houses.
• Culture: As a charity, the focus is on community health, not billing hours.

2. ParaMed (The Giant)

Status: Private (but holds massive Government Contracts)

Best For: Availability of Hours

The Role: ParaMed is one of the largest home care providers in Canada. They hold huge contracts with "Home and Community Care Support Services" (formerly LHINs).

The Pay: $19.00 – $24.00 per hour (varies by government funding boosts).

Why it wins:

• Volume: Because they are huge, they can offer you as many hours as you want. If you want to work 60 hours a week, you can.
• The "Wage Enhancement": In provinces like Ontario, the government provides a "PSW Wage Enhancement" (currently ~$3/hr extra) for publicly funded hours. ParaMed ensures you get this top-up.
• Flexibility: They operate 24/7, so you can build a schedule that fits around childcare.
• Related: This flexibility makes it a strong option for those explored in our Best Jobs for Moms guide.

3. SE Health (Saint Elizabeth Health Care)

Status: Social Enterprise (Non-Profit)

Best For: Education & Training

The Pay: $21.00 – $25.00 per hour.

Why it wins:

• Training: SE Health is famous for its internal education. They offer specialized training in Palliative Care and Dementia Care that you can add to your resume.
• The Vibe: Known for being very supportive of their staff ("Hope and Happiness" is their motto). They invest in mobile technology so you can do your charting on a tablet instead of paper.

Part 2: The Private Premium (Franchises)

These are for-profit companies paid directly by families. The quality varies by franchise owner.

4. Nurse Next Door

Status: Private Franchise

Best For: "Happier Aging" Culture

The Pay: $18.00 – $22.00 per hour.

The Concept: They focus on "Companionship" rather than just medical tasks. You might be hired just to take an elderly client to the garden center or cook lunch with them.

Why it fits:

• Less Stress: The clients are often wealthier (paying private rates) and healthier than the acute patients seen by government agencies.
• Branding: They have a very strong, positive culture ("Pink Cars").
• The Risk: As a franchise, every owner is different. Some are amazing; some are cheap. Read the specific Google Reviews for the local office before applying.

5. Home Instead Senior Care

Status: Private Franchise

Best For: Non-Medical Companionship

The Pay: $17.00 – $21.00 per hour.

The Role: Primarily Alzheimer’s and dementia support.

Why it fits:

• Training: They offer world-class Alzheimer’s training for staff.
• Entry Level: They are often willing to hire people without a full PSW certificate if they have relevant "life experience" (like caring for a parent), making this a great entry point.
• Related: This is an excellent option for older workers, as discussed in our Jobs for Seniors article, who want to help their peers.

Part 3: The "Direct Hire" (The Immigration Route)

Working directly for a family, not an agency.

6. Private Family Caregiver (Live-In or Live-Out)

Status: Direct Employment

Best For: Foreign Workers & LMIA

The Pay: $18.00 – $25.00 per hour (or Salary).

The Dynamic: You are hired directly by a family to care for their parent or child.

Why it wins:

• Sponsorship: Families are the #1 source of LMIAs for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot. Agencies usually do not sponsor LMIAs because the paperwork is too heavy. Families are desperate enough to do it.
• Housing: As covered in our Jobs With Employer Housing guide, many families offer free or subsidized room and board (Live-in), which allows you to save massive amounts of money.
• The Danger: You have no HR department. If the family is toxic or refuses to pay overtime, you are on your own. You must know your rights.

The "Gig Economy" Option: Care.com

Status: Freelance Marketplace

Best For: Side Hustle

• How it works: You create a profile (like Tinder for caregivers). Families message you directly.
• The Pay: You set your own rate. Experienced PSWs often charge $30 - $40 per hour for private care.
• The Catch: You are self-employed. No taxes are deducted, no EI, no CPP. You must manage your own business.

Comparison Table: Agency vs. Private vs. Public

Practical Questions Answered

"Why do agencies pay less than the hospital?"

Funding Models.

• The Reality: Hospitals have massive budgets and strong unions. Home care is chronically underfunded. A PSW in a hospital makes $28/hr. A PSW in home care makes $22/hr for doing the exact same job (often with more driving). If money is your only goal, apply to the hospital (see our Healthcare Support Jobs Guide).

"Do I get paid for travel time?"

Ask this immediately.

• The Scam: Some bad agencies only pay you for the hour you are inside the client's house. If you drive 30 minutes to get there, you work for free.
• The Law: In many provinces, travel time between visits must be paid (at least minimum wage). Reputable agencies (VON, SE Health) pay a set mileage rate (e.g., $0.45/km).

"What happens if my client passes away?"

You lose your hours.

• The Instability: If you work for a Private Family, your job ends the day the client dies or goes to a nursing home.
• The Agency Advantage: If you work for ParaMed or VON, and Client A dies, they simply reassign you to Client B. You keep your paycheck.

"Can I work without a certificate?"

In Home Care? Yes.

• The loophole: Hospitals require a college certificate (PSW/HCA). Private home care agencies often hire "Unregulated Care Providers" (UCPs) and train them internally, especially for companionship roles.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I sponsor my family if I work as a caregiver?

Yes.

Under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot, if you gain enough Canadian work experience (currently 12 months), you can apply for Permanent Residency for yourself and your family.

Do I need a car?

For Home Care: YES.

It is almost impossible to be a home care worker on the bus. You have to visit 4-5 different houses a day. A reliable vehicle is a requirement of employment for VON and ParaMed.

Is live-in care legal?

Yes, but "Mandatory Live-In" is mostly gone.

The government removed the requirement for caregivers to live in the employer's home to prevent abuse. You can choose to live in, but they cannot force you (unless it's a specific TFW stream condition, which has evolved). If you do live in, they cannot charge you room and board if it is a mandatory condition of the job (rules vary by province).

About the author

Jeff Calixte (MC Yow-Z) is a Canadian career researcher and digital entrepreneur who studies hiring trends, labour market data, and real entry-level opportunities across Canada. He specializes in simplifying the job search for newcomers, students, and workers using practical, up-to-date information.

Sources

• VON Canada Careers: https://www.von.ca/en/careers
• Nurse Next Door Franchise info: https://www.nursenextdoor.com/careers/
• Government of Canada (Caregiver Immigration Pilots): https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/caregivers.html

Note:

Job availability, wages, and hiring conditions can vary widely by province, employer, season, and experience level. All salary ranges and job examples in this guide are estimates based on current labour market data. Always confirm details directly with the employer before applying.