Continuing Care in Alberta

Alberta’s Continuing Care System

Alberta’s continuing care system provides Albertans with the health, personal care and accommodation services they need to support their independence and quality of life.

The continuing care system is a shared responsibility between Alberta Seniors and Alberta Health and Wellness.

Continuing care services are provided in three streams which can provide clients with a broad range of health and personal care, accommodation and hospitality services:

Home Living
Home Living is for people who live in their own home, apartment, condominium or in another independent living option. They are responsible for arranging any home care and support services they require.

Supportive Living
Supportive living combines accommodation services with other supports and care. It meets the needs of a wide–range of people, but not those with highly complex and serious health care needs. Locate a facility and view details about compliance with provincial accommodation standards and verified complaints.

Facility Living
Facility living includes long-term care facilities like nursing homes and auxiliary hospitals. Care is provided for people with complex health needs who are unable to remain at home or in a supportive living facility. Locate a facility and view details about compliance with provincial accommodation standards and verified complaints.

Entering the Continuing Care System

Based on their needs, Albertans may enter the continuing care system to receive:

Health Services in Their Own Homes
Home care can provide in-home professional support services such as nursing and rehabilitation, and personal support services like homemaking, bathing or grooming assistance.

More information on having your care needs assessed and receiving home care is available by Link to external site contacting Alberta Health Services. Home care services are publicly-funded and provided through Alberta Health Services.

Accommodation and Health Services in Supportive Living
In addition to providing a place to live, accommodation services in supportive living accommodations can include meals, housekeeping and social activities. Supportive living residents can also receive professional and personal support services through home care.

Residents pay an accommodation fee to cover the costs of providing accommodations and services like meals, housekeeping and building maintenance.

Locate a facility and view details about compliance with provincial accommodation standards and verified complaints.

More information on accommodation service providers, including housing registries, is available by contacting:

A searchable list of management bodies responsible for subsidized seniors housing across Alberta is also available.

Accommodations and Health Services in Facility Living
Long-term care settings provide both accommodation and health services in facilities like nursing homes and auxiliary hospitals.

Residents pay an accommodation fee to cover the costs of providing accommodations and services like meals, housekeeping and building maintenance. Health services in long-term care are publicly-funded and provided through Alberta Health Services.

More information on having your care needs assessed and moving into a long-term care facility is available by Link to external site contacting Alberta Health Services.

Locate a facility and view details about compliance with provincial accommodation standards and verified complaints.

Continuing Care Accommodation and Health Service Standards

Provincial standards for accommodation and health services are now in place. They are designed to ensure home care, supportive living and long-term care operators provide quality health and accommodation services to their residents.

All continuing care operators, including long-term care facilities and supportive living accommodations, are expected to comply with the provincial accommodation standards.

Supportive Living and Long-Term Care Accommodation Standards
The long-term care and supportive living accommodation standards address accommodation services. These services include building cleanliness and maintenance, safety and security, food preparation and laundry. Alberta Seniors is responsible for these standards.

Accommodation Standards and Licensing Publications and Forms

Continuing Care Health Service Standards
The  health service standards address the publicly-funded basic health care and personal care services that are provided to continuing care clients. This includes assessed health and personal care services provided by nurses, therapists, health care aides and other health care professionals. These standards are the responsibility of Alberta Health and Wellness.

Resolving Concerns

  • Accommodation Service Concerns: to resolve a concern that has not been addressed by your supportive living accommodation or long-term care facility – call toll-free in Alberta 1-888-357-9339.
  • Health Service Concerns: to resolve a concern with a publicly-funded health care service that has not been addressed by your home care or long-term care provider – visit  Alberta Health Services for contact information for your area. Additional information on resolving concerns is also available from Alberta Health and Wellness.
  • Suspected Abuse: if you have concerns about abuse or safety of adults in publicly-funded care facilities such as seniors' lodges, long-term care facilities and group homes, call Protection for Persons in Care toll-free in Alberta at 1-888-357-9339.
  • Safety and Security of Vulnerable Adults: if you have concerns about accommodation standards for supportive living accommodations or long-term care facilities, please call 1-888-357-9339 or read the Safeguards for Vulnerable Adults fact sheet for more information.

Continuing Care Publications

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