Continuing care – Resident accommodation charges

Overview

Residents living in type A (formerly known as nursing homes, auxiliary hospitals) and type B (formerly known as designated supportive living) continuing care homes are responsible for paying an accommodation charge. Examples of things covered by accommodation charges include:

• rooms
• meals
• housekeeping
• routine building maintenance

Health care services in type A and type B continuing care homes are publicly funded at no cost to residents.

Accommodation charges

Continuing care homes adhere to the Continuing Care (Ministerial) Regulation, which oversees accommodation charges. The Alberta government sets the maximum resident accommodation charge in type A and type B continuing care homes. In supportive living settings, the accommodation charge is set by the operator and can vary from facility to facility.

The maximum resident accommodation charge in type A and type B continuing care homes is adjusted annually on August 1st based on whichever is lower – the increase in the Alberta Consumer Price Index over the past year or, alternatively, 3.8%. This approach aims to promote affordability for residents and uphold quality of care.

Since 2022, Government has provided operators a subsidy on behalf of residents due to unusually high inflation.

Resident charges increased by 3.8%, effective August 1, 2024. As per the Continuing Care (Ministerial) Regulation, this is the maximum amount that resident charges can be increased on a yearly basis. Government will also be providing an additional subsidy to operators to contribute towards accommodation related costs for operators.

As of  August 1, 2024, the maximum resident accommodation charges for type A and type B continuing care homes are shown in the tables below.

Table 1. Continuing care home (types A and B) resident accommodation charges – Subsidized rates

Table 2. Continuing care home (types A and B) Full Accommodation Revenue (includes resident charge and government subsidy)

Alternate Level of Care Accommodation Charge

If you are in the hospital receiving care, your condition may improve or change to a point where the hospital care team decides your care needs no longer require hospital services. It may be determined that you would best be cared for in a type A or type B continuing care home.

If a type A or type B continuing care home is not immediately available to meet your needs and preferences, you may be required to stay in the hospital while waiting for a space to become available.

If you are staying in a hospital bed while awaiting a move into a type A or type B space, you will be charged a fee called an Alternate Level of Care (ALC) Accommodation Charge.

This charge is: 

• set at the rate currently charged for a shared room type noted in the accommodation rates above
• does not apply if your move is for end-of-life care

Contact your care team to help you explore possible government income supports and other benefits if the ALC Accommodation Charge will cause you financial hardship.

Financial help

In type A and type B continuing care homes, accommodation charges may be fully or partly covered for low income residents who are either:

• eligible for the Alberta Seniors Benefit
• clients of the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) program

As of January 2024, residents who are eligible for benefits through these programs will be assured of at least $357 per month in disposable income after their monthly accommodation charge is paid. This disposable income amount is available for personal expenses, such as personal hygiene items, telephone, cable, internet, personal laundry, medications, etc.

News

• Keeping continuing care affordable for residents (March 31, 2023)
• Inflation relief portal and payments coming soon (January 9, 2023)

Contact

Connect with Continuing Care