The Olde Forge is currently offering Telephone Based Regular Check-ins and Friendly Conversations. Through this program, volunteers make regular telephone calls to homebound seniors and disabled persons to check on their well-being and give people and opportunity to socialize.

Tap Telephone Assurance (TAP)

Through this program, volunteers make regular telephone calls to homebound seniors (60 years of age or older) and disabled persons to check on their well-being and give people an opportunity to socialize.  Relationships grow and can last for years . TAP's main purpose is to alleviate some of the concerns facing those who live alone, and help them to remain independent.  All new clients must undergo a telephone assesment prior to receiving services in the home (on some occasions a home visit may be required).

Program Benefits:

• Opportunity to socialize by telephone with someone who cares
• Allows individuals to keep in contact with their community
• Helps decrease the feelings of loneliness and isolation

To Qualify to have your taxes completed by Drop-Off:

• You live in Ontario
• Your 2024 income tax return has not yet been filed with CRA
• You were born in 1969 or earlier or you are an adult with a physical disability
• Married or common-law couple: your 2024 total income was $55,000 or less
• Single, separated or divorced person: your 2024 total income was $38,000 or less
• You did not have income from capital gains, rental income from a property you own, income from a business you own, nor  were you  self-employed
• You are not bankrupt
• Fee: FREE!

Please Note: The turn around time for income tax filings will be 2-3 weeks. 

If you do not qualify for this program or the time lines and format do not work for you, please contact 211 for other available clinics in the community.

2024 Taxation Drop-off form and instructions will be available Starting February 26th, 2024

Please be Aware: Now that it is tax filing season, you may notice an increase in the number of spam calls claiming to be CRA or the RCMP (tax fraud). 

Remember: The real agencies will never demand payment over the phone or threaten legal/ police action. 

Snow Go

Provides a matching service funded by the City of Ottawa, for seniors and adults with disabilities looking to hire an individual or contractor to clear snow from private driveways and walkways. Residents who participate in this program are responsible for paying the individual or contractor removing the snow.

The Olde Forge vets contractors to provide 90 clients a year within the Olde Forge catchment area with snow plowing, blowing and shoveling.

Snow Go Assist

Funded by the City of Ottawa, provides financial assistance to eligible low-income seniors or persons with disabilities looking to hire an individual or contractor to clear snow from private driveways and walkways. Approved participants may be reimbursed for 50% of the cost of snow clearing per event, up to a seasonal maximum of $250. Funds are limited and are assessed on income and first come first served basis.

The Grocery Bus- Currently Not Running

Our Grocery Bus travels every other Thursday to Metro in Bells Corners.

The program serves clients living in high-rise apartment buildings within our catchment area.

Clients are picked up at their building and ride in style to the Metro Store in Bells Corners. This bus is air conditioned with spacious comfortable seating and is wheelchair accessible.

Staff and volunteers assist on the bus and in the store (when needed) and even load and unload the groceries.  Delivery is available at the store for large orders. Clients must be able to manage their grocery bags from the lobby of their building to their apartment. 

Pick up Times and Locations

Home Help

The Olde Forge Home Help program offers house-keeping services to seniors and adults with physical disabilities living in Ottawa’s West End.

The Home Help is a customizable service that focuses on the tasks you need done!

Services may include:

• vacuuming
• laundry
• additional housekeeping chores

With the Olde Forge Home Help program you get the same Home Helper at the same convenient time! This routine helps to keeps scheduling simple and easy for everyone!

Provided on a fee-for-service basis by Olde Forge employees, this program is designed allow clients to live independently in their homes. Provision of services is preceded by a home visit to determine needs and wishes and to identify need for other services. A single worker is assigned to the client to develop comfort and familiarity. Worker monitors client’s condition and reports any concerns.

" I do so look forward to my Home Helper visit and very much appreciate her empathy and support. I can now look forward to the immediate future knowing that, with her help, I can manage to keep on top of things and enjoy daily living without the stress of wondering how I will manage!"

Home Maintenance

The Home Maintenance program is like having your own reliable handy-person that focuses on the projects you need completed.

Service is provided by Olde Forge employees to more than 300 people seasonally, on a fee-for-service basis. Service is well-established, over 30 years old.

This is an on-call service for minor repairs and odd jobs around the home and can include:

• storage cleanout
• window cleaning
• ongoing lawn and garden maintenance (mowing, planting, weeding)
• patio and outdoor set-up
• small interior and exterior home repairs and maintenance
• odd jobs

With the Olde Forge Home Maintenance Service, there is no long-term contracts or obligations. Our maintenance employees can work as little or as often as you need. Bookings are done on a job-by-job basis unless otherwise arranged with the Home Maintenance Coordinator. Get the help you need when you need it all at a reasonable rate!

Having trouble reaching your feet? Are your feet causing you problems? We can help with that! Every Thursday at the Olde Forge we offer a foot care clinic provided by registered foot care nurses from Sonia Footcare who are specially trained to help you with foot related problems.Though the Olde Forge has offered a foot care clinic for years, the Sonia Footcare team just recently took charge of the program.

You might be wondering why you should see one of our foot care nurses instead of going to the local salon. Foot care is not always about the basic ‘pedicure’. The nurses from Foot Comfort are required to be registered as nurses by the province and are held to a standard of practice. They have specialized training in advanced and diabetic foot care that goes beyond their regular nursing training. In addition to cutting and filing your toe nails, they will also take care of any concerns such as removing corns or calluses; taking care of dry or cracked skin; and even treating ingrown nails.

The nurses from Sonia Footcare are also trained to look at the overall health of your lower leg and foot. While providing care, they are also assessing your circulation, temperature, pulses, and checking for sensation and any swelling. They are there to help with common foot issues, while also providing preventative care. It’s not just about cutting toenails.

One of the most important things about how they provide care is that all the instruments and materials they use are either sterile-to-point of use (autoclaved) or disposable. As the foot care industry is not regulated, not everyone sterilizes their equipment. Sonia Footcare makes your health and safety top priority, by using sterile-to-point of use or single-use disposable instruments. It’s your right to know whether foot care instruments are cleaned, sanitized, disinfected or sterilized before they touch your feet; don’t hesitate to ask the practitioner.

If this sounds like something you could benefit from, please contact the Olde Forge to book an appointment. Drives can be organized through transportation. However if you can’t get to the clinic, Sonia Footcare is also available to provide foot care appointments at your home.

This is a high-demand program 

Adult Day Program

The Day Programs, offered two days a week since 2006, serve frail seniors and seniors with a cognitive impairment.They offer a day full of stimulating physical and mental exercises, games and entertainment, and a nutritional hot meal. Clients are referred through community agencies etc. This program also provides a much needed  respite service for full-time caregivers. Twelve clients are served each day. There is a user fee plus a transportation fee.

Our clients enjoy the variety and change of pace, and caregivers appreciate the quality and reliability of the programs. Caring volunteers are heavily involved in this program, and significant program planning is required.

To register: All referrals must be made through Home & Community Care please contact us for more information or assistance for a referral. 613-829-9777