Table of contents

Overview

Residents living in supportive living and long-term care are responsible for paying an accommodation charge. Examples of accommodation-related services include:

  • rooms
  • meals
  • housekeeping
  • routine building maintenance

Health care services in designated supportive living and long-term care settings are publicly funded at no cost to residents.

Accommodation charges

The Alberta government sets the maximum accommodation charge in designated supportive living and long-term care. In other types of supportive living settings, the accommodation charge, or rent, is set by the operator and can vary from facility to facility.

As per regulation, maximum accommodation rates increase 3.6% by the change in the Alberta Consumer Price Index starting July 1, 2023 until June 30, 2024.

From July 1 to September 30, 2023, the Government of Alberta will pay the 3.6% increase directly to continuing care home operators on behalf of residents. Residents will continue to pay last year’s rates during this period.

Accommodation increases will be reviewed again in June to determine next steps.

Maximum accommodation charges for designated supportive living and long-term care are:

Effective July 1, 2023 based on 3.6% increase in the Alberta Consumer Price Index*

*As published by Statistics Canada, for the 12 month period ending on February 28, 2023.
**Double occupancy
***Ward rooms were phased out during the pandemic; the standard room rate only applies to those waiting in hospital for admission to a continuing care facility.
  Regulated increase at 3.6%
July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024		 Resident rate July 1 to September 30, 2023
(no increase in effect)
  Daily Average monthly Daily Average monthly
Private room $76.60 $2,336 $72.35 $2,201
Semi private room** $66.30 $2,022 $62.60 $1,904
Standard room*** $63.00 $1,922 $59.50 $1,810

Accommodation charges while in hospital

If you are in the hospital receiving care, your condition may improve or change to a point where the hospital care team may determine your care needs no longer require hospital services. It may be decided you would best be cared for in designated supportive living or long-term care.

If a designated supportive living or long-term care space 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 designated supportive living or long-term care, 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 “Standard” room type noted in the accommodation rates above. This charge does not apply if your move is for palliative care.

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

Read Alberta Health Services’ policy on Alternate Level of Care Accommodation Charges

Financial help

In designated supportive living and long-term care facilities, 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 2023, residents who are eligible for benefits through these programs will be assured of retaining $342 per month in disposable income. This amount is available for personal expenses such as personal hygiene items, telephone, television, etc.

News

Was this page helpful?

All fields are required unless otherwise indicated.

Your submissions are monitored by our web team and are used to help improve the experience on Alberta.ca.