The government will provide $10.4 million to continuing care operators, on behalf of residents, to offset one-quarter of this year’s increase in accommodation charges for Albertans in long-term care and designated supportive living.
Operators are permitted by legislation to raise accommodation rates each July 1 by the rate of inflation over the previous year. This year’s increase will be 5.5 per cent. The government will pay operators directly for the increase for July 1 to Sept. 30.
“This year’s inflation rate is unusually high, and passing it on in full would be an undue strain on continuing care residents and families. Giving them a break is the right thing to do. At the same time, operators are also being impacted by inflation. We’ll look at options to reduce the burden on residents beyond Sept. 30 while we also ensure operators have the revenue they need to maintain services.”
Quick facts
- Maximum accommodation charges are set out in the Nursing Homes Operation Regulation under the Nursing Homes Act.
- Annual increases are based on the Alberta Consumer Price Index, from February of the current year and February of the previous year.
- Accommodation charges reflect the cost of providing such things as:
- resident rooms
- meals and meal service
- laundering of towels and linens
- housekeeping services
- utilities
- routine building maintenance
- general administration
- Low-income residents who qualify for the Alberta Seniors Benefit or Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped are protected from these changes because their benefits offset increases in annual charges.
- The minimum monthly disposable income for Alberta Seniors Benefit clients in continuing care is among the highest in Canada.
- In Budget 2022, the government is providing almost $3.7 billion in operating funds across the continuing care system and $204 million in capital funding over three years to modernize existing continuing care facilities and create additional continuing care spaces in Alberta.
