Special Needs Assistance for Seniors

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.

Funding maximums

• $1,807 (once every 5 years) for a medically required CPAP
• $228 per year for supplies in any subsequent benefit year
  • a receipt or estimate is required annually
  • benefit not provided in the same benefit year as a CPAP machine

Documents to include

• Level 1 Polysomnogram (PSG) or Level 3 Home Sleep Apnea Test (HSAT) completed by an accredited Canadian facility, public or private, with diagnostic and treatment sleep study with raw data, summary and signed interpretation provided by a physician qualified in sleep medicine
  • If the diagnostic study is a HSAT, a separate treatment study is required.
  • If the PSG is not a split night or is inconclusive, then a separate treatment study is required.
• confirmation by CPAP provider or physician of symptoms consistent with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA)
• minimum 30-day current/compliance report with complete data, supplied by a CPAP provider
• prescription from physician with pressure setting, fixed or auto
• receipt or estimate for a CPAP machine
• any other documentation identified as required during the review process

Each request to the SNA program is reviewed by an Alberta Health Services respiratory specialist before a benefit is approved. Insufficient or missing documentation may result in a delay.

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Diabetes supplies include: test strips, lancets, needles, antiseptic swabs, ‘sharps’ containers.
• Diabetes supplies do not include prescribed medications. Supplies not on the Alberta Drug Benefit List are not considered.

Funding maximums

Maximum funding is based on your control method:

• diet and exercise – maximum funding is $413 per year
• oral medications – maximum funding is $1,237 per year
• insulin – maximum funding is $1,384 per year

Documents to include

• receipt or a recent 12-month prescription printout from your pharmacist showing the diabetes supplies purchased.
• information regarding the diabetes management method: oral medications, insulin, or diet and exercise.

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Only Ensure, Boost, Glucerna, Resource or other brands that are nutritionally equivalent will be considered. Thickeners such as Resource Thicken Up or similar products and Nepro may be considered. Maximums apply.

Funding maximums

• The amount funded is determined by a medical note.
• Funding is provided to a maximum of 4 bottles per day at $2.25 per bottle.

Documents to include

Once a year you must provide a medical note signed by a physician, nurse practitioner or registered dietician that indicates:

• the number of bottles of nutritional beverages prescribed per day
• the duration that nutritional beverages are required
• confirmation of the medical condition that necessitates the use of nutritional beverages

First time applicants may receive benefits for up to 3 months based on this note. To receive funding after the initial 3 months, provide receipts.

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.

Funding maximums

• $30 per month for regular maintenance – nail trimming and callus removal only

Documents to include

Receipts must include:

• senior's name, date of service and type of service provided
• service provider's name, phone number and signature

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Benefits are provided for the current benefit year only.
• Over-the-counter medications and medications not on the Alberta Drug Benefit List are not considered.

Funding maximums

• Assistance is provided for a portion of the co-payment amount for prescription medications only.
• Funding is provided for the co-payment amount you pay above the average of $45 per month for a single senior (or the senior in a couple where one individual is under the age of 65) and $90 per month for a senior couple where both individuals are age 65 or older.

Documents to include

• Your previous 12-month prescription printout (Patient Medical Expense Report) from your pharmacist is needed to determine your monthly average co-payment and your anticipated prescription costs during this benefit year.
• New seniors may provide documents from their pharmacy confirming their anticipated prescription costs over a 3-month period, including Alberta Blue Cross Coverage for Seniors, or a prescription printout (Patient Medical Expense Report) from the time they turned 65 to today.

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Assists with costs to prepare and fumigate a residence due to a bed bug infestation.

Funding maximums

• $1,327

Documents to include:

• letter from your landlord, property manager or extermination company (if a private residence) confirming a bed bug infestation
• estimate or receipt for treatment services

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Benefits are provided for the current benefit year only.

Funding maximums

• $59 per month
• Funding is determined using the date your request is received.

Documents to include:

• medical note from a physician or nurse practitioner the first time you make a request to confirm celiac disease

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Benefits are provided for the current benefit year only.

Funding maximums

• $678 per year
• Funding is determined using the date your request is received.

Documents to include:

• a medical note from a health professional confirming new clothing is needed as a result of weight gain or loss (of 25% or more of the senior’s initial total body weight) within the previous 12-month period, due to a medical condition

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• To assist with the initial clean-up of a home when a hoarding problem has been identified by a social worker or community based worker or agency specializing in home cleanup/hoarding.  A benefit will not be paid if the home cleanup is part of a move out clean.

Funding maximums

• $1,658 once in a lifetime

Documents to include:

• letter from the agency identifying a hoarding situation
• estimate or receipt for the clean-up

Eligibility

• Secondary income threshold: $29,010 for single senior or $46,440 for couple.
• Assistance is provided for light housekeeping, grass cutting, and snow removal only.
• Applicants living with, or renting from, family members are not eligible for assistance.
• Applicants paying family members to provide housekeeping or yard maintenance are not eligible for assistance.
• Seniors residing in a lodge, supportive living facility or continuing care home are not eligible for assistance.

Funding maximums

• $1,356 in a benefit year

Documents to include:

• medical note from a health professional the first time you make a request specifying the mobility or health condition that does not allow you (and your spouse) to do your own housekeeping or yard maintenance.

A medical note does not need to be provided if you and your spouse (if applicable) are 80 years of age or older.

Receipts must include:

• applicant’s name and address
• service provider's name, phone number, address and signature
• breakdown of services provided – housekeeping, grass cutting, snow removal only
• date of service and hours, cost per hour and total cost

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Assistance is provided for medical trips greater than 80 km (round trip) to see a medical specialist or for medical testing or treatment.

Funding maximums

• Based on per diem calculation taking into consideration distance travelled, meals and parking.
• Meal costs are considered on travel days only.

Documents to include:

• report from the medical specialist or medical facility specifying the dates of the appointment and confirmation of attendance
• a copy of the receipt if you stayed overnight and paid for accommodations
  • maximum of $115 per night is funded
  • receipts must be in the name of the senior or the senior's spouse

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Assists a senior moving from a permanent placement in a continuing care home Type A to permanently relocate to another continuing care home Type A.
• Medically supervised transport using Alberta Paramedical Services or Emergency Medical Services is considered.

Funding maximums

• $97 once in a lifetime

Documents to include:

• documentation from the transferring facility indicating that the senior requires medically supervised transfer by ambulance

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Benefits are provided for the current benefit year only.
• Benefits may only be paid to seniors residing in lodges and private supportive living facilities.
• You may be referred to Homecare.

Funding maximums

• $70 per month

Documents to include:

• documentation from the facility stating the monthly medication administration fee and the effective date

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Benefits are provided for the current benefit year only.
• In-home systems connecting to a third party responder responsible to dispatch emergency services or a caregiver are considered.
• Assistance is not provided for installation, personal GPS tracking systems, security or alarm services, or internal facility response services.

Funding maximums

• $23 per month

Documents to include:

• estimate or receipt for monthly monitoring fees

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.

Funding maximums

• $904 once in a lifetime

Documents to include:

• medical note from a health professional describing the medical condition that necessitates relocation.
• A washer and dryer may only be moved within a home for medical reasons. A benefit will not be paid if the washer and dryer are moved from one home to another.
• estimate or receipt

Eligibility

• Secondary income threshold: $29,010 for single senior or $46,440 for couple.
• Respite care (relief for a caregiver) is provided for a senior living with their caregiver (spouse or family member) who provides daily care to the senior.
• The respite care must be provided in a care centre.

Funding maximums

• private room rate
• maximum 4 weeks per benefit year

Documents to include:

• medical note from a health professional documenting the caregiver’s name and the senior's medical condition that requires daily full time care from a caregiver
• receipt or estimate from the care centre

Eligibility

• Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.
• Assistance may be available for each utility (water, electricity and gas) once every 3 years.
• Utilities must already be disconnected or will be disconnected within 48 hours.

The Electric Utilities Act states electric services cannot be fully disconnected from October 15 to April 15. Natural gas distributors cannot disconnect services from November 1 to April 14.

Funding maximums

• Based on actual cost up to a combined maximum of $5,643 per benefit year.
• Only charges over the last 12 months can be considered.

Documents to include:

• disconnection notice or most recent bill from your utility company
  • The utility account and disconnection notice must be in the senior’s name and for the senior’s primary residence.

Eligibility

Primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.

Funding maximums

$284 each (2 per year)

Documents to include:

• medical note from a physician or nurse practitioner the first time you make a request confirming the medical condition
• estimate or receipt

Only one of each funded appliance or furniture type is considered for either a single senior or senior couple in a lifetime. For example, you can only receive funding for a refrigerator one time from this program.

Only one appliance or furniture item is considered for a single senior or senior couple per benefit year. For example:

• If you are eligible for primary items only, you can receive funding for a bed or a fridge in one benefit year, not both. Exceptions are noted below.
• If you are eligible for both primary and secondary items, you can receive funding for a bed or a television in one benefit year, not both. Exceptions are noted below.

Where you live also determines which appliance or furniture items you can claim:

• homeowners and mobile homeowners: all appliances and furniture
• renters: bed, microwave, television and vacuum
• applicants living with or renting from family or friends: bed
• continuing care home Type A residents (formerly long-term care): television
• lodge and continuing care home Type B residents (formerly designated supportive living): bed and television

Documents to include

• receipt or estimate with your request for an appliance or furniture item

All maximum amounts include GST, delivery, removal of the old appliance, installation and hook-up, environmental fees.

Repairs to funded appliances may be considered.

Table 1. Items under primary income threshold: $33,410 for single senior or $54,640 for couple.

Table 2. Items under secondary income threshold: $29,010 for single senior or $46,440 for couple