Continuing care – Resident accommodation charges

How to access
Resident accommodation charges
Resident and family councils

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
utilitites
routine building maintenance

Health care goods and 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 for each facility.

The maximum resident accommodation charge in type A and type B continuing care homes is adjusted annually on August 1 based on whichever is lower – the increase in the Alberta Consumer Price Index over the 12-month period ending on February 28 of the same year or, alternatively, 3.8 per cent. This approach aims to promote affordability for residents and uphold quality of care.

To protect continuing care home residents from high inflation, the Alberta Government has been subsidizing them for the difference between the accommodation charge and regulated rate since 2022. The amounts have been paid directly to operators on behalf of residents.

The current maximum resident accommodation charges, effective August 1, 2025, are shown in the tables below.

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

Impacted residents	All residents
Occupancy	1 resident	2 persons (charge is stated in per person amount)
Room type	Daily	Daily
Shared room	$69.20	n/a
Private room	$80.00	n/a
1 Bedroom suite	$95.80	$66.25
Multi-bedroom suite	$110.25	$73.45

Table 2. Continuing care home (types A and B) maximum full accommodation revenue (includes resident charge and government subsidy)

Impacted residents	No residents are subject to these amounts as it includes a government subsidy to operators
Occupancy	1 resident	2 persons (charge is stated in per person amount)
Room type	Daily	Daily
Shared room	$71.05	n/a
Private room	$82.05	n/a
1 Bedroom suite	$96.15	$66.50
Multi-bedroom suite	$110.65	$73.75

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, 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, authorized through the Hospitalization Benefits Regulation.

This charge:

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

Contact your care team to help you explore possible government income support 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 2026, residents who are eligible for benefits through these programs will be assured of at least $373 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.