We want to ensure our members and the community receive the support and resources they need, have access to credible news, and have access to engaging online arts, culture and lifelong learning while at home.
Our staff complied a list of available resources, and will be updating this list as more services and programs become available! Check back often!
COVID-19 Updates:
City of Toronto
Government of Ontario
Public Health Ontario
Health Canada
COVID-19 Vaccine Information:
COVID-19 vaccine information in multiple languages from City of Toronto. Visit their website for more information.
Learn about Ontario’s vaccination program to help protect against
York Region residents can book an appointment online for their COVID-19 vaccine HERE. Family members, friends or caregivers of residents that are not able or comfortable booking online will be able to book an appointment on their behalf. Vaccines are delivered by appointment ONLY.
North York residents can book an appointment online for their COVID-19 vaccine. For more information and to book, please click HERE. Vaccines are delivered by appointment ONLY.
Do you live in York Region and need a ride to your COVID-19 vaccination appointment? Pink Cars is a group of volunteer drivers and administrators that will help arrange transportation for those of you that need it. They will also help with booking online appointments if necessary. For more information, visit their website.
The Seniors Hotline is here to assist seniors to get vaccinated in North York. If you need help with registration or getting vaccinated, call the Seniors Hotline at 416-447-5200.
COVID-19 Vaccines – What Older Canadians Need to Know is a new evidence-based guidance document that dispels myths, addresses concerns and more.
In partnership with the City of Toronto, Sunshine Centre for Seniors has a Sunshine Centres Vaccine Support Line: a new initiative to help seniors easily book their vaccination appointment and access information about the COVID-19 vaccine. The number is 647-847-9853, and the line is open Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Knowledgeable Sunshine Centres staff member will be equipped to: help seniors book vaccine appointments; book vaccine appointments for seniors; answer questions about the vaccines; and answer follow-up questions after receiving the vaccine. For more information, visit their website.
Vaccine Hunters Canada – A community to supplement COVID-19 vaccination initiatives and help eligible Canadians find vaccines
Residents without OHIP cards who meet the current vaccine eligibility criteria for their first or second dose may get vaccinated at any clinic or pharmacy offering vaccine. City-run clinics now operate on a walk-in basis on Tuesday to Saturday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. A health card is not needed, however individuals must bring an acceptable form of identification which may include government-issued ID (including non-Canadian and expired documents) such as a driver’s licence or passport, a piece of mail with your name on it, a pay stub or a student card. For more information, click HERE.
For more information about getting third doses, visit the City of Toronto website HERE.
Proof of Vaccination
Starting on September 22, 2021, the Government of Ontario will require people to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of their vaccination status to access certain businesses and settings. For more information, visit https://covid19.ontariohealth.ca/
If you would like to print your proof of vaccination, visit any Toronto Public Library branch to print it for FREE. For more information, visit tpl.ca/printfree
How to Get Your Vaccination Receipt – What to do if there is an error on your vaccination receipt, please click HERE
How to Document Out-of-Province or Non-Ontario Stock Vaccines, please click HERE
Grocery/Food Resources and Support Services:
Friendly Neighbour Hotline Program – 1-855-581-9580 (Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm) – Organized by University Health Network and OpenLab, volunteers can help pick up essentials like groceries and household items. This services is available to Toronto seniors living in low-income housing. Available in 180 languages, including Russian. Can order groceries online with their order form on their website. Program flyer
UJA COVID-19 Relief Hotline – 416-621-5676 – Assistance with groceries and essential supplies as needed. Individuals are connected with a community volunteer and/or donor to assist. You can also email Ryla Braemer at rbraemer@ujafed.org
The City of Toronto, Canadian Red Cross, and United Way Greater Toronto are providing food hamper delivery to seniors over 70 and others in need who are unable to leave their homes. Call 1-833-204-9952 to register for a delivery. This is a free service, no cost for groceries or delivery. Eligibility criteria are: You are a Toronto resident and your postal code begins with M; You are self isolated because of your recent travel outside of Canada; You had contact with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19; You exhibit symptoms of acute respiratory infection (ARI); You live alone and have no-one who can assist you with grocery shopping; You have temporary or permanent physical or mental disability; You can not access any local food bank for any of above-mentioned reason; You are 70+ years old.
Toronto Seniors Helpline – 416-217-2077 – This service is for a seniors that could benefit from community supports, such a transportation, crisis services, care at home, such as nursing and personal support, supportive counselling over the phone, and caregiver resources and support. Calls are answered 365 days a year with interpretation available in 100+ languages. Monday-Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-6pm.
Jewish Youth Network – A team of volunteers offer assistance to isolated individuals in the GTA with critical errands, kosher food, supplies, phone calls and prayers. Fill out their online form and a volunteer will be in touch with you.
Good Neighbour Project GTA – Providing service of grocery deliver (from an online order or food bank) in Toronto and the GTA (including York Region). Call within 2-3 days of your pick-up time to be connected with a volunteer to pick-up and deliver your groceries. The volunteer will call you to discuss a plan for drop off. Note your preferred language and they will try to match you with a volunteer that speaks your preferred language. 647-873-2230
The Stop Foodbank – Can receive a box of food of food on Monday or Friday. Typically contains 2 weeks worth of food. 416-652-7867 ext. 243. Must be picked up. Can coordinate with Good Neighbour Project (647-873-2230) to arrange a volunteer to pick it up.
211 – For information and resources including food, homelessness, housing, mental health and addictions, community programs, health care and more, visit their website.
North York Toronto Health Partners – providing support for seniors who are isolated and newly discharged patients including transportation to medical appointments; telephone security and wellness checks; meals, grocery and comfort package delivery; pharmacy delivery; personal support, home making and laundry services; social work and counselling services; care coordination; and behavioural consultation for adults with responsive behaviours. Please note some services require co-pay. Please call 416-447-5200.
Grocery Delivery Services:
Cataldi Fresh Market (Woodbridge, ON) – offering curbside pickup and delivery options with a minimum purchase of $50. 905-605-5565
Grocery Gateway – Longos (Vaughan, ON) offers online and call (905-564-8778 or 1-877-447-8778) grocery ordering options though Grocery Gateway
Instacart
PC Express
Cornershop
Walmart
Loblaws
Uber Eats
InABuggy
MealFix – prepared meal delivery service in Toronto and the GTA
Bag-Half-Full – a free grocery delivery service in the GTA. There is no delivery or service fee. You can pay for your groceries via e-transfer, cash or cheque. For more information, visit their website.
*Please note some grocery delivery services are experiencing delays and long wait times.
Meals on Wheels:
Bernard Betel Centre – kosher – 416-225-2112, ext. 185 or ext. 134
Circle of Care – kosher – 416-635-2860
CHATS – non-kosher – 905-713-6596, ext. 7021
Lumacare – non-kosher – 416-398-5519
Healthy Now Seniors Meals – non-kosher in Newmarket and Aurora – 647-210-0047
Senior Persons Living Connected – non-kosher – 416-493-3333
Call Lines:
211 – Canada’s primary source of information on government and community based health and social services 24/7. Dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.ca to connect to community services. Available in over 150 languages.
TeleHealth Ontario – 1-866-797-000 – Fast, free medical advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In an emergency, do not call TeleHealth, call 911 right away.
Toronto Public Health Hotline – 416-338-7600 – Monday-Friday 8:30am-8pm, Saturday-Sunday 10m-6pm. Translation available in many languages. Toronto Public Health eChat is a free, confidential and anonymous online service for Toronto residents. Chat online with a Public Health Nurse about various topics including senior health, healthy eating, mental health promotion, chronic disease and injury prevention, substance about and more.
Toronto Seniors Helpline – 416-217-2077 – This service is for a seniors that could benefit from community supports, such a transportation, crisis services, care at home, such as nursing and personal support, supportive counselling over the phone, and caregiver resources and support. Calls are answered 365 days a year with interpretation available in 100+ languages. Monday-Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-6pm.
Sunshine Friendly Chatline – offered by Sunshine Centre for Seniors, if you are feeling lonely or just want someone to chat with for a while, give them a call at 647-847-9853. The Chatline is open Monday-Friday from 9am-3pm. Please note, this is not a crisis line. If you are in need of crisis support, please call the Toronto Seniors Crisis Line at 416-217-2077
A Friendly Voice – 1-855-892-9992 – a phone line available to seniors in Ontario who are 55+ and who are experiencing loneliness/sadness or just simply need a little pick-me-up. Give us a call today, we’d love to hear from you! Not sure if our service is for you? Give us a call and ask some questions, we are happy to answer them! Not a counselling service, distress, a referral service, or crisis line nor emergency service.
Seniors Safety Line – 1-866-299-1011 – provides contact and referral information for local agencies across the province that can assist in cases of elder abuse. Trained counsellors also provide safety planning and supportive counseling for older adults who are being abused or at-risk of abuse. Family members and service providers can also call for information about community services. 24/7
Victim Services Toronto – 416-808-7066
Victim Services York Region – 905-953-5363
Silver Connect – Student run organization. Lively conversations through video and phone calls between student volunteers and the seniors of the community. To schedule a call send them an email. Visit their website for more information.
Technology:
NEW! Home Security – Keeping Seniors Safe at Home
Cyber-Seniors – offering various online seminars (via Zoom) and pre-recorded sessions on YouTube for older adults in Canada and the US on topics such as joining Facebook, how to join a Zoom meeting, video calling Skype, How to use YouTube, how to set up and use online banking, ordering groceries online, accessing podcasts, and more. Also offer one-on-one sessions by phone and FaceTime.
Mental Health, Crisis, Housing, and Shelter Resources:
Mental Health Services – If you need assistance, please contact CMHA, CAMH, Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health, Mood Disorders Society of Canada.
Crisis Services Canada – 1-833-456-4566 or 416-915-4566 – Call, text or chat online for support to anyone concerned about suicide, suffering a loss, and more. Available 24/7/365
Toronto Seniors Helpline – 416-217-2077 – This service is for a seniors that could benefit from community supports, such a transportation, crisis services, care at home, such as nursing and personal support, supportive counselling over the phone, and caregiver resources and support. Calls are answered 365 days a year with interpretation available in 100+ languages. Monday-Friday 9am-8pm, Saturday-Sunday 9am-6pm.
Shelter, Support and Housing Administration (City of Toronto) – Provided a Shelter Services – Frequently Asked Questions and Resources document, or you can also visit their website for more information.
ShelterSafe.ca – An online resources to help women seeking safety from violence and abuse. The clickable map serves as a fast resource to connect to the nearest shelter.
Victim Services Toronto – 416-808-7066
Victim Services York Region – 905-953-5363
SWIFT Self Help Groups – SWIFT is a peer-lead self-help support group that helps each other learn more about our hopes and fears and how to cope with our highs and lows. Currently offering online services through Google meetings on Thursdays from 6:45 pm to 8:30 pm.
211 – For information and resources including food, homelessness, housing, mental health and addictions, community programs, health care and more, visit their website.
Other Important Resources:
Free Pet Food – St. James Town Community Corner is offering free pet food (dry dog and cat food) for those in need. Please call 426-964-6657 or email info@stjamestown.org. For more information, please see their flyer.
Resources from City of Toronto for assistance to pet owners during COVID-19, and tips to make a plan for your pet’s care if you become ill or need hospitalization, click HERE.
COVID-19 resources for LGBTQ2S – Visit The 519’s website for COVID-19 information, updates, services, supports, and resources for the LGBTQ2S community.
Jewish Russian Community Centre (JRCC) – 416-222-7105, ext. 999 – Support for Russian-speaking Jewish seniors who are 70+.
Resources from OACAO Business Partners – The Older Adults Centres’ Association of Ontario (OACAO) put together a resource list that might be of interest in older adults in the community.
The Ontario Caregiver Organization – has a list of COVID-19 resources for caregivers on their website.
Health Network for Uninsured Clients – The Health Network for Uninsured Clients is a collaboration of over 40 health and community service organizations that work together to improve access to health care for people living in Toronto without public health coverage (OHIP). They have created a useful document titled Accessing Healthcare in Toronto.
Free Repair – St. James Town Community Corner is offering free small appliance repair. For more information, please see their flyer.
Click HERE for a list of online grief resources.
Need help to self-isolate? Close contact continues to drive the spread of COVID-19 in York Region. Residents who need a comfortable place to safely self-isolate from others may be eligible for a free stay at York Region’s COVID-19 Voluntary Isolation Centre. While the Centre is not a health care facility, it can be a home away from home for residents to rest and recover from COVID-19, free of charge for up to 14 days. For those who have come in close contact with someone with COVID-19, the Centre is a safe place to self-isolate. Each stay at the Centre helps reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community. The Centre is operated by the Canadian Red Cross on York Region’s behalf. For more information, click HERE.
The Ontario Bar Association has created an initiative call Eviction Help: The Tenant-Lawyer Connection Portal which provides a virtual space for tenants to connect with participating private lawyers who will offer 30 minutes of free legal advice. More information can be found HERE.
Directory of Services for Seniors and Caregivers in Toronto – The City of Toronto and Findhelp|211 Central have developed the Directory of Services for Seniors and Caregivers in Toronto to help people learn about and access the many services available to them. The Directory was co-created with the input and support of many seniors, caregivers and service providers across the city. With the support of organizational partners serving Black, Indigenous, Francophone, newcomers, Veteran and 2SLGBTQ+ seniors, there are also specialized chapters about targeted supports available for these communities. An initial limited number of printed copies will be distributed later this year through the Library, City and community partners working with seniors facing low-incomes, isolation, technology barriers and other vulnerabilities. Instructions on how to easily access information in over 150+ languages is included throughout the Directory. If you have any questions, please contact seniors@toronto.ca.
Fitness, Dance and Meditation:
Bernard Betel Centre’s Director, Programs and Certified Fitness Instructor, Maria Lindgren, is leading a 30-60 minute gentle fitness class LIVE on the Bernard Betel Centre’s Facebook page every Monday at 12pm. For other FREE fitness classes, visit our Online Programs page. Registration may be required.
National Institute on Aging is offering a 15 minutes workout, a 20 minute workout, and a 60 minute workout for older adults.
Dancing with Parkinson’s – Offering free live dance classes through Zoom seven days a week. Visit their website for more information.
Meditation – Looking decrease stress and relax? Check out these 5 minute, 10 minute, and 20 minute free meditation sessions on YouTube.
Arts, Culture, Entertainment, and Lifelong Learning Programs:
The Met Opera – Stream handpicked past performances of the Met’s Live in HD series each night right from the organization’s website.
Google Arts & Culture Project – More than 2,500 spaces from around the world are accessible online, with many offering virtual tours of their holdings.
The Khan Academy – offers 1,800 video lessons on an range of courses from finance to the French Revolution.
British Museum – Explore a stunning visual timeline of the world, with an array of annotated objects. Great for the history buff!
African American History and Culture – This extremely popular museum is offering virtual tour to give you a taste of what the museum has to offer!
Russia’s State Hermitage Museum – Enjoy this extensive video tour of the largest museum in Russian. Complete with 45 galleries and 588 artistic masterpieces.
Kusama’s Infinity Mirrors – One of the hottest travelling museum exhibits of the past few years, enjoy this brisk room-by-room rundown of the hypnotic, multi-faceted work on Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama.
Duolingo – Duolingo is a free mobile app and website where you can learn a new language. Learn 30+ languages online with bite-size lessons using evidence-based teaching tools. Don’t let the cute cartoon characters dissuade you, it’s an effective program for people of all ages.
Melbourne Zoo – The Australian zoo has set up live streams of their snow leopard cubs, penguins, giraffes, lions and zebras to enjoy.
Canada’s Wonderland – Any thrill seekers out there? On the Canada’s Wonderland YouTube channel, they offer front row seats to many of their roller coasters!
Seniors’ Centre Without Walls (SCWW) – a free interactive telephone-based program that connects seniors.
Toronto Public Library – With a free Toronto Public Library card, you can access their collection of ebooks, audio books, lynda.com courses (over 3,500 video courses), magazines, and videos.
Vaughan Public Library – With a free Vaughan Public Library card, you have access to various digital materials including ebooks, films, music, magazines and more.
J-Flix – Presented by the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, J-Flix is a streaming platform dedicated to showcasing the rich heritage of Jewish film. Their collection is currently available for free, with new films added each week.
ChatterPack – ChatterPack, A UK based organization, put together a list of free, online ‘boredom-busting’ resources including virtual tours, online learning, music, literature, entertainment, learning a new skill, and more!
Activities to do While Physical Distancing – Canadian Coalition for Seniors’ Mental Health put together a wonderful resource list of things to without being physically close including puzzles, books, journaling, art, meditation, and more.
The Science of Well-Being Course – Offered by Yale University, in this free course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life.
Toronto Writers Collective Virtual Workshops – Looking for community, creativity, and a chance to center yourself during this time of social distancing? Join the TWC’s FREE virtual creative writing workshops. No writing experience necessary. For more information and to register, visit their website. Spots are limited.
Cirque de Soleil – Enjoy an exciting 60 minute special performance on YouTube.
Circles Enrichment – Offering regular lectures and presentations via Zoom free of charge. Email info@circlesenrichment.com to register and for more information about upcoming presentations.
Thornhill Lifelong Learning – Offering weekly free (or by donation to a local organization) webinar lectures on Thursdays at 2:00 pm. Join their mailing list by visiting their website for upcoming lectures.
iVolunteer Email Pen Pals – iVolunteer is offering intergenerational ’email pen pals’ to help stay connected during this difficult time of isolation. If you are interested in being connected with a pen pal through iVolunteer, please email Sharon at sharonc@betelcentre.org.
Take a road trip from home! TitleMax put together a great list of virtual road trips to place like the Giant’s Causeway in Ireland, Machu Picchu in Peru, and the NASA Space Center in Houston, Texas. Check our the full list HERE.
Transportation:
TTC – An overview of measures TTC continues to take to keep their customers safe and well informed. View their website for more information.
Financial Services:
The Government of Canada is providing additional financial support of $2.5 billion for a one-time tax-free payment of $300 for seniors eligible for the Old Age Security (OAS) pension, with an additional $200 for seniors eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS). This measure would give a total of $500 to individuals who are eligible to receive both the OAS and the GIS and will help them cover increased costs caused by COVID-19.
Jewish Free Loan Toronto – Offering up to $8,000 interest-free loans.
York Region – Need financial assistance during COVID-19? For those who can safely self-isolate at home but require financial assistance to take 10 to 14 days off work, support is available to help cover the cost of rent, utilities and food. To learn more about available supports visit york.ca/IsolationCentre or call Access York at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 72500 (M-F 8:30 am to 7 pm; S-S and Holidays 1 to 4 pm)
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we want to ensure our members and the community receive the support and resources they need, have access to credible news, and have access to engaging online arts, culture and lifelong learning while at home.
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