Hospice Care Ottawa

Hospice Care Ottawa is a residential care organization based at 114 Cameron Ave in Ottawa, offering palliative and end-of-life support along with bereavement and community-based hospice programs. Families across the city turn to it when a loved one is living with a life-limiting illness and needs care in a home-like setting rather than a hospital ward. The organization's approach centres on comfort, dignity, and support for both the person receiving care and the people around them.

For many Ottawa households, the search for this kind of support begins during an already difficult stretch of time — a diagnosis has changed, home care is no longer enough, or a family caregiver needs a break. Hospice Care Ottawa positions itself as a resource for exactly that moment, with a residential site, in-home visits, and structured caregiver support built around the realities of a long Ottawa winter, a spread-out region, and family members who may be juggling work and caregiving at once.

Services offered

Hospice Care Ottawa's programs fall into three broad categories: residential hospice care, community hospice care, and bereavement care, each designed to meet people where they are in their journey.

Residential hospice care

When staying at home is no longer practical, Hospice Care Ottawa provides around-the-clock residential care in a setting built to feel as close to home as possible rather than a clinical facility. The focus is on daily comfort and peace of mind for both the resident and visiting family members, in a smaller, quieter environment than a typical hospital unit.

Community hospice care

Not every family needs residential placement right away. Hospice Care Ottawa's community programs bring support directly into people's homes across the Ottawa area, including in-home visits and day hospice sessions where individuals can spend part of the day in a supportive setting and return home in the evening. This option suits families who want to keep a loved one at home for as long as possible while still having access to trained support.

Caregiver support

Caring for someone with a life-limiting illness is demanding, and Hospice Care Ottawa builds caregiver support directly into its community offering. This gives family members — often juggling their own work, children, or health needs — a structured way to share the load rather than carrying it alone.

Bereavement care

Support does not end when a loved one dies. Hospice Care Ottawa's bereavement care program is meant for people navigating grief afterward, recognizing that the period following a death can be as difficult, in its own way, as the illness that preceded it.

Who these programs are for

Hospice Care Ottawa's programs are aimed at individuals living with a palliative or life-limiting illness and the people close to them — spouses, adult children, siblings, and friends who take on caregiving roles. Because Ottawa's population spans downtown neighbourhoods, suburban communities, and rural edges of the city, having both a residential option and a community-based, in-home option matters: not every family lives close enough, or has the flexibility, to visit a single site every day, and not every situation calls for a residential move.

The organization also maintains Francophone services, reflecting Ottawa's bilingual character and the number of families in the region who are more comfortable receiving this kind of sensitive support in French.

What to expect when reaching out

Families considering Hospice Care Ottawa can call 613-260-2906 or visit hospicecareottawa.ca to learn more about current programs and how to begin the conversation. Because circumstances differ from one family to another — some need residential care quickly, others are exploring community support for the first time — an initial conversation is typically the starting point for understanding which program fits best. Given that decisions around end-of-life care often happen under time pressure, having a local point of contact in Ottawa, rather than a distant or generalized service, is part of what families are usually looking for at this stage.

Frequently asked questions

What does Hospice Care Ottawa actually provide?

It provides residential hospice care, community hospice care (including in-home visits and day hospice), caregiver support, and bereavement care for people living with a life-limiting illness and their families in the Ottawa area.

Is residential care the only option?

No. Families can access community-based support that comes into the home, including day hospice sessions, without a residential placement. Residential care is available for situations where staying at home is no longer possible.

Are services available in French?

Hospice Care Ottawa maintains Francophone services, which matters given the number of French-speaking families across the Ottawa region.

How do I start the process with Hospice Care Ottawa?

The most direct way is to call 613-260-2906 or visit the organization's website to ask about current program availability and next steps. An initial conversation is generally used to determine which program — residential, community, or bereavement — fits the family's situation.