• Alberta’s Continuing Care System
• Entering the Continuing Care System
• Continuing Care Standards
• Resolving Concerns
• Licensing of Supportive Living Facilities
• More Information

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.

Continuing care services are provided in three streams:

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 who have highly complex and serious health care needs.

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 supportive living.

Each stream can provide clients with a broad range of health and personal care, accommodation and hospitality services.

Entering the Continuing Care System

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

• Health Services in Their Own Homes,
• Accommodation and Health Services in Supportive Living, or
• Accommodation and Health Services in Facility Living.

Health Services in Their Own Homes
Home care can provide in-home professional support services like 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  contacting your regional health authority. Home care services are publicly funded and provided through Alberta’s regional health authorities.

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

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

•  Alberta Senior Citizens’ Housing Association (ASCHA)
  Phone: (780) 439-6473 (Edmonton)
•  Kerby Centre
  Phone: (403) 265-0661 (Calgary)
•  Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton (SAGE)
  Phone: (780) 423-5510

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’s regional health authorities.

More information on having your care needs assessed and moving into a long-term care facility is available by  contacting your regional health authority.

Continuing Care Standards

New continuing care standards have been introduced to help improve Alberta’s system and ensure quality accommodation and health services are provided consistently across the province.

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

•  April 2007 Continuing Care Standards Update: update on the standards and supporting processes

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

Continuing Care Health Service Standards
The  health 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. Alberta Health and Wellness is responsible for these standards.

Standards and Related Documents

• Long-Term Care Accommodation Standards: apply to all long-term care facilities - recently updated with feedback from stakeholders
•  Long-Term Care Accommodation Standards Checklist: checklist to help long-term care operators comply with the accommodation standards - reflects the updated Long-Term Care Accommodation Standards
• Supportive Living Accommodation Standards: apply to public, voluntary, and private supportive living settings - recently updated with feedback from stakeholders
•  Supportive Living Accommodation Standards Checklist: checklist to help supportive living operators comply with the accommodation standards - recently revised to reflect the updated Supportive Living Accommodation Standards
•  Supportive Living Small Facilities Accommodation Standards Checklist: checklist to help supportive living operators of small facilities (with four to 10 residents) comply with the accommodation standards - reflects the updated Supportive Living Accommodation Standards
•  Continuing Care Health Service Standards: apply to publicly-funded health and personal care services provided in long-term care facilities, supportive living settings and home care programs
•  Supportive Living Framework: describes the four levels of supportive living in Alberta and lists supportive living-related definitions - new cover

Resolving Concerns

• Accommodation service concerns: to resolve a concern that has not been addressed by your supportive living or long-term care facility – call toll-free in Alberta 1 (877) 384 8326
• 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  www.health.gov.ab.ca/regions/RHA_map.html for contact information for your regional health authority. More information on resolving concerns is also available in the  Resolving Concerns Within Alberta's Health System brochure
• 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

More Information

• Continuing Care in Alberta website:  www.continuingcare.gov.ab.ca
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