When a family invites a caregiver into a loved one’s home, they are placing trust in one person. They trust this person to arrive calm, notice small changes, and treat their parent with dignity on an ordinary Tuesday as much as on a difficult day. At Freiheit Care, we have come to see that this kind of care does not happen by accident. It begins with how we value the people who provide it.
The 2026 Ottawa living wage
This month, the Ontario Living Wage Network announced its updated 2026 rates. In Ottawa, the living wage is now $24.10 an hour, up from $23.40 in 2025, an increase of about 3 percent. The living wage is not a legal requirement. It is an estimate of what a worker needs to earn to cover the real cost of living in a community, including housing, food, transportation, and childcare, while still being able to take part in everyday life. It sits well above Ontario’s minimum wage.
For anyone working in care, those numbers matter. Caring for older adults is demanding, skilled, and deeply human work, and it should be paid in a way that reflects that.
What we have done
Liberté des soins has always paid above the living income, and in line with this commitment, we are increasing our caregiver compensation for 2027. This sits alongside the standards our families already count on. Every caregiver is vetted, insured, bonded, police-checked, and trained in senior care, and our care is overseen by registered nurses.
We made this decision because we believe the standard of care and the standard of employment are connected. We do not see it as a favor to our team. We see it as part of running a home care agency properly.
Why it matters to the families we serve
When caregivers are paid fairly, families tend to feel the difference in ways that are quiet but important.
- Continuity. A caregiver who feels valued is more likely to stay, which means your loved one sees familiar faces rather than a rotating list of new ones.
- Attention. Someone who is not stretched across several jobs to make ends meet has more energy to notice a change in appetite, mood, or mobility and to flag this to family and our Nursing Manager.
- Trust. Familiarity builds comfort, particularly for people living with memory changes or recovering after surgery.
- Professional pride. Caregivers who feel respected bring that respect into the home.
This is not only our observation. A peer-reviewed Ontario study published in the Canadian Journal on Aging concluded that raising wages for personal support workers in home and community care is expected to help stabilize the workforce and increase capacity to care for older adults at home. Families benefit when caregivers can build a career in this field.
Our commitment
A living wage is one part of a larger promise. We will keep investing in training, in registered nurse oversight, and in careful matching between caregivers and clients, because those things are what make home care feel safe and personal. We are also grateful to the Ontario Living Wage Network for the work it does to set a clear, evidence-based standard for employers across the province. Liberté des soins is a certified living-wage employer.
Frequently asked questions
What is the living wage, and how is it different from the minimum wage?
The living wage is an annual estimate, calculated by the Ontario Living Wage Network, of the hourly pay a worker needs to cover the real cost of living in their community. The minimum wage is the legal floor set by the province. In Ottawa, the 2026 living wage is $24.10 per hour. In contrast, the legal minimum wage is $17.95 per hour.
Does paying a living wage change the quality of care at home?
Fair pay supports caregiver retention and focus, which helps families build a lasting relationship with the same people. Research on home and community care in Ontario points in the same direction, although every care situation is different.
How can I learn more about Freiheit Care’s approach?
Our team is glad to talk through our standards, our nursing oversight, and how we match caregivers with each client. Call us or book a conversation, and there is no obligation.
Get a Free Consultation to speak with our care team about what support at home could look like for your family.