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What is continuing care?

Continuing Care:

Albertas continuing care system provides Albertans with the health, personal care and accommodation services they need to support their independence and quality of life.

Source: Alberta Health Continuing Care

Home Care:

Home Care Program services include: assessment, case management, professional nursing, rehabilitation therapy, social work and personal care. Services are based on assessed unmet need for short term or long-term care, and include palliative or end-of-life care. Home care also provides assessments for applications to continuing care centres, designated assisted living, and facility respite care. Services are available for all ages with health-related problems that can be managed in a community setting.

For more information contact Alberta Health Services

Home Living:

The primary housing option for persons who are able to live independently with minimal support services. Home living is the housing option for persons who choose to and who are able to maintain active, healthy, independent living while remaining in their home as long as possible. In order to support continued independent living, basic Home Care services may be provided and/or the individual can purchase services from another agency.

Supportive Living:

A home-like setting where people can maintain control over their lives while also receiving the support they need. The buildings are specifically designed with common areas and features to allow individuals to "age in place". Building features include private space and a safe, secure and barrier-free environment. Supportive living promotes residents' independence and aging in place through the provision of services such as 24-hour monitoring, emergency response, security, meals, housekeeping and life-enrichment activities. Publicly-funded personal care and health services are provided to supportive living residents based on assessed unmet needs.

Designated Supportive Living Level 3:

Assisted Living (SL3) option where AHS controls access to a specific number of beds according to a contractual agreement between AHS and the operator. Twenty-four hour on-site scheduled and unscheduled personal care and support services are provided by Health Care Aides. Professional health services including Registered Nurse services with 24 hour on-call availability, case management and other consultative services are provided through AHS.

Designated Supportive Living Level 4:

Enhanced Assisted Living (SL4) option where AHS controls access to a specific number of beds according to a contractual agreement between AHS and the operator. Twenty-four hour on-site scheduled and unscheduled professional and personal care and support services are provided by Licensed Practical Nurses and Health Care Aides. Professional health services including Registered Nurse services with 24 hour on-call availability, case management and other consultative services are provided through AHS.

Designated Supportive Living Level 4 Dementia:

Enhanced Assisted Living Dementia (SL4-D) option provides services for individuals with moderate dementia that will progress to later stages or other forms of cognitive impairment who require a secure therapeutic environment.

Long-term Care Facility:

A purpose-built congregate care option for individuals with complex, unpredictable medical needs who require 24 hour on-site Registered Nurse assessment and/or treatment. In addition, professional services may be provided by Licensed Practical Nurses and 24 hour on-site unscheduled and scheduled personal care and support are provided by Health Care Aides. Case management, Registered Nursing, Rehabilitation Therapy and other consultative services are provided on-site. Long-term care facilities include "nursing homes" under the Nursing Homes Act and "auxiliary hospitals" under the Hospitals Act.


For more information on the three streams of continuing care (home living, supportive living, and long term care) go to Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services