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
The Alberta government sets the maximum accommodation charge in type A and type B continuing care homes. In other types of supportive living settings, the accommodation charge is set by the operator and can vary from facility to facility.
Government will continue to pay operators a subsidy on behalf of residents – this has been in place since 2022 because of unusually high inflation.
Maximum resident accommodation charges for type A and type B continuing care homes are:
Table 1. Accommodation charges for April 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024 – subsidized rates
| Impacted residents | All residents | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupancy | 1 resident | 2 residents (daily rate and average monthly are stated in per person amounts) | ||
| Room type | Daily | Average monthly | Daily | Average monthly |
| Shared room | $64.85 | $1,973 | n/a | n/a |
| Private room | $74.95 | $2,280 | $54.65 | $1,662 |
| 1 Bedroom suite | $89.80 | $2,731 | $62.10 | $1,889 |
| Multi-bedroom suite | $103.30 | $3,142 | $68.85 | $2,094 |
Table 2. Accommodation charges for April 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024 – full regulated rates
| Impacted residents | No residents are subject to these amounts as it includes a government subsidy to operators | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Occupancy | 1 resident | 2 residents (daily rate and average monthly are stated in per person amounts) | ||
| Room type | Daily | Average monthly | Daily | Average monthly |
| Shared room | $66.30 | $2,017 | n/a | n/a |
| Private room | $76.60 | $2,330 | $54.65 | $1,662 |
| 1 Bedroom suite | $89.80 | $2,731 | $62.10 | $1,889 |
| Multi-bedroom suite | $103.30 | $3,142 | $68.85 | $2,094 |
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 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.
These charges are set at the rate currently charged for a shared room type noted in the accommodation rates above. This charge 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.
Read Alberta Health Services’ policy on Alternate Level of Care Accommodation Charges.
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 eligible for the Alberta Seniors Benefit or 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 retaining $357 per month in disposable income. This amount is available for personal expenses such as personal hygiene items, telephone, television, etc.
News
- Keeping continuing care affordable for residents (March 31, 2023)
- Inflation relief portal and payments coming soon (January 9, 2023)
- Making life more affordable for Albertans (December 7, 2022)