This release was issued under a previous government.

Budget 2017 boosts home and community care

Minister Hoffman with Jaye Fredrickson in her home

This brings total funding to over $2 billion for home care and community care in 2017-18. The funding will give seniors and Albertans with disabilities services such as nursing and personal assistance, day programs, respite relief, palliative care and wound care so they can continue to live and participate in their communities.

These services are used by Albertans of all ages whose independence is challenged by illness, physical or mental limitations.

“This is a practical investment that is going to make a difference in the lives of Albertans of all ages by delivering home care right to their door and protecting and improving the community health services they need to stay healthy and connected to their friends and families.” 

Sarah Hoffman, Minister of Health

The $200-million increase means hundreds more Albertans will see increased access to home care and community care. Without this investment, many of these patients would face worse health outcomes and require hospital- or facility-based care.

“By enhancing community-based health care we can support even more people at home or in the community. With this investment, we will continue to build partnerships with Albertans, other providers and government departments and improve our ability to provide the best possible care, closer to home.”

Dr. Kathryn Todd, Vice President, Research, Innovation & Analytics, Alberta Health Services

"Since I was diagnosed with ALS in 2008, home care support has enabled me to continue living with my husband and son, in our own home, close to family and friends.  We are very pleased to see Alberta’s increased commitment to access and quality of care at home, because we could not have managed without AHS funding, and we understand how much this care has improved the quality of our lives as a family living with a life-changing disease." 

Jaye Fredrickson, home care recipient

Quick facts

  • Home-care clients pay no fees for publicly funded personal care or professional health-care services.
  • In the 2015/16 fiscal year, more than 116,000 Albertans received home-care services.
  • Home-care clients have increased by approximately 20 per cent in the past six years, from around 97,000 clients in 2010/11 to 116,000 in 2015/16.
  • Alberta will receive $703 million for home care over the next 10 years from the Government of Canada.