Overview
This legislation was informed by extensive stakeholder engagement and reviews, when a review of the continuing care system began in 2021 to improve the quality of life across the continuing care system.
Continuing Care Act
The Continuing Care Act regulates the full spectrum of continuing care services and settings in Alberta, including continuing care homes, supportive living accommodations, and home and community care. The act establishes authority and oversight for licensing, accommodations, and the delivery of publicly funded health care in the continuing care system. It includes requirements for licensing, compliance and enforcement actions and appeals.
Continuing care regulations
Under the Continuing Care Act, regulations provide the details necessary to direct all continuing care services and settings (including continuing care homes, supportive living accommodation and home and community care).
Other documents referenced in the regulations provide additional information and expectations for the sector, including:
- Staffing guideline
- Continuing care homes overview of staffing requirements and quality assurance fact sheet
- Home and Community Care – Fee Schedule
Continuing care standards
The Government of Alberta sets standards for quality in continuing care through different mechanisms, including legislation and standards.
These standards include:
- Continuing Care Health Service Standards
- Accommodation Standards – Continuing Care Home
- Accommodation Standards – Supportive Living Accommodation
The Continuing Care Health Service Standards establish the minimum standards in the provision of high quality, individualized health care, based on the assessed needs of each client and resident.
The Accommodation Standards establish the minimum standards of accommodation services, such as meals, building maintenance, security, housekeeping, social or leisure activities and resident and family involvement to promote safety, security, and quality of life for clients and residents.
Resources
Guides
- Home and Community Care in Alberta: A guide to new continuing care legislation
- Supportive Living Accommodations in Alberta: A guide to new continuing care legislation
- Continuing Care Homes in Alberta: A guide to new continuing care legislation
Plain language summaries
- Plain Language Summary – Continuing Care Regulation (LGIC)
- Plain Language Summary – Continuing Care (Ministerial) Regulation
Information videos
- Introduction to Continuing Care Inspections: What Albertans Can Expect – This video covers the inspections and compliance monitoring process, and how complaints are handled.
- The Licensing Application Process – This video focuses on licensing requirements and application processes for continuing care home and supportive living accommodation operators, as well as information on transitional licences for operators who currently have a licence or certification.
- The Inspection and Compliance Monitoring Program – This recording covers compliance, monitoring and enforcement actions, including changes for inspections and compliance monitoring in the Continuing Care Act, regulations and policy tools.