Nunavut Elder Care Services Directory: Who to Call and Where to Start

The Problem With Finding Help in Nunavut

There is no single office in Nunavut that handles everything related to elder care. Home care falls under the Department of Health. Housing modifications go through the Nunavut Housing Corporation. Income supplements involve both the Department of Family Services and Service Canada. Legal authority questions land at the Court of Justice or one of three regional legal aid clinics. For families arranging care in a crisis, figuring out who handles what — and which phone number actually reaches a person — burns hours they don't have.

This directory maps the key services by category, with the contact information and access method for each.

Home and Community Care

Your local community health centre is the entry point for all publicly funded home care services. No referral is needed — call or walk in to request an assessment. The health centre connects you with a home care supervisor who arranges nursing visits, personal care assistance, and homemaking support under the territorial Home and Community Care program.

For territory-wide coordination on facility placements and waitlists, the Territorial Continuing Care Coordinator at the Department of Health manages the Single Entry Access system. Contact them at [email protected] for placement questions.

211 Nunavut

Dialling 211 (or visiting nu.211.ca) connects you with a searchable directory of community, health, and government services across the territory. The database lists direct phone numbers for health centres, elders' facilities, and social programs in each community. It's useful for finding contact details quickly, though it doesn't explain eligibility rules or walk you through the care process.

Legal Aid and Legal Services

Three regional legal aid clinics serve Nunavut, and all handle elder-law matters including guardianship applications and power of attorney questions:

• Maliiganik Tukisiinakvik (Iqaluit) — serves the Qikiqtaaluk region
• Kivalliq Legal Services (Rankin Inlet) — serves the Kivalliq region
• Kitikmeot Law Centre (Cambridge Bay) — serves the Kitikmeot region

Legal aid is free for financially eligible applicants, though the application review can take several weeks. Prepare financial documents in advance to speed up the approval.

Elders' Societies and Community Support

Pairijait Tigumivik (Iqaluit Elders Society) operates the Elders' Qammaq drop-in centre and advocates for elder welfare in the Qikiqtaaluk region. Their programming is rooted in Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit values and includes cultural activities, meals, and social support. Services are limited to Iqaluit residents.

Other communities have local elders' committees and hamlet-level programs, though formal contact information is often only available through 211 or the hamlet office directly.

Housing and Home Modifications

The Nunavut Housing Corporation administers the Senior Citizen Home Repair Program (SCHRP), which provides grants up to $15,000 for accessibility modifications like grab bars, ramps, and bathroom renovations that allow an elder to stay at home safely. Applications go through the Housing Corporation's regional offices.

Income and Benefit Programs

• Senior Citizen Supplementary Benefit (SCSB): a monthly territorial supplement linked to the federal Guaranteed Income Supplement. Administered by the Department of Family Services.
• Aged Incidental Allowance: $175 per month for Income Assistance recipients aged 60 and older.
• Senior Fuel Subsidy: covers up to 3,500 litres of heating fuel for eligible homeowners with household income under $100,000.
• Extended Health Benefits (EHB): additional coverage for dental, vision, and medical supplies for registered seniors. Contact the EHB Office in Rankin Inlet.

Patient Relations and Complaints

If you encounter care quality issues, staffing shortfalls, or language barriers at any facility or during the care process, the Office of Patient Relations handles formal complaints: 1-855-438-3003 or [email protected]. Complaints are acknowledged within 48 hours.

Pulling It All Together

The Nunavut Elder Care Guide organizes these contacts alongside step-by-step instructions for each stage of the care process — from initial assessment through facility placement — so you're not piecing together a plan from a dozen separate phone calls.

See more Nunavut guides →