Who Pays For Home Care In Alberta?
If you are caring for an elderly or chronically ill loved one, you may be wondering “who pays for home care in Alberta?”. Home Care services in Alberta are sometimes publicly funded by Alberta Health Services (AHS), which looks after the health of Albertans. Home Care serves people who want to stay at home longer, need frequent medical treatments at home, or who need assistance for recovery following an illness or injury. The cost of accommodation may be paid for by the individual, and these rates have been set by the Government of Alberta.
How Do I Access Home Care In Alberta?
To access home care, designated supportive living or long-term care, the first step is to contact Alberta Health Services by calling Health Link at 811. Once connected with an AHS health professional you will have a conversation about your or your loved one’s unique situation. The health professional may ask questions about what’s important to you and how your current challenges are impacting you and your life. If a referral for a service or type of care is required, the AHS staff member will help coordinate that for you as well.
Client Directed Home Care Invoicing
Have you heard of Client Directed Home Care Invoicing? Previously, your only option for having your choice of home care services paid for was to submit invoices to Alberta Health Services (AHS) to have them reimbursed through the Self Managed Care program. Now individuals receiving AHS Public Home Care, including Self Managed Care (SMC), will be given the option to choose who they want to provide these essential services, including respite and homemaking services.
With Client Directed Home Care Invoicing, you can choose where and who to provide your care from a list of AHS approved providers. Not only will your approved homecare provider (that’s us, at Pinnacle Age Well!) do all the billing on your behalf directly through the Blue Cross of Alberta, we will also be able to better accommodate your unique care requirements and preferences, as well as offer personalized home care services not offered through AHS.
Speak with a Pinnacle Age Well senior care expert today.
How Do I Qualify for Home Care in Alberta?
To qualify for home care in Alberta, you’ll need to undergo a professional assessment to determine whether you have an “unmet need for care.” This means you need help with certain aspects of your daily life. Qualifying factors may include:
- Mobility issues
- Trouble with functional independence (needing help with activities like cooking and cleaning)
- Medical instability
- Age (individuals 65 or older often qualify)
- Income level (in some cases)
- Smoking status (in some cases)
To start the qualification process, contact Health Link at 811 for an assessment.
Is Public Or Private Home Care Better?
The public or private debate is a common one among seniors and their families. Many people think that private care is better because it’s tailored to their needs and provides more individualized attention. While this may be true for some, public Alberta Health Services care provides a valuable resource to many older adults who can’t necessarily afford private care.
However, now you can have the best of both worlds. With CDHCI you can hire an approved agency who will tend to your family needs as a private home care provider would, but with public funding to offset the vast majority of the cost.
A private home care agency will often have longer visits and continuity with the same caregivers. This is essential in building trust and relationships, improving socialization, building positive routines, and further overcoming any reluctance to have care in place.
There are many care related services that a private agency will do, but public home care will not:
- Companionship and socialization (longer visits, building relationships)
- Transportation and accompaniment on errands
- Homemaking and light housekeeping
- Direct communication and updates to family members
- Specific schedules and times that work for you
Public home care in Alberta can be accessed by individuals who need assistance with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing and medication management. This is an important resource for many seniors who are living at home alone or with family members who are not able to provide the care needed due to work, school or other commitments. If you are currently receiving AHS home care, you can speak with your case manager about switching to the CDHCI program so you can choose your own provider.
Private home care like Pinnacle Age Well offers similar services but with a more personalized approach with registered nurse management and oversight, than the public system can provide. We understand the importance of treating each client as an individual and providing customized care plans that meet their specific needs while respecting their wishes whenever possible.
Contact Pinnacle Age Well to speak to a home care expert to help you learn about public funding options and how to get started.
Frequently Asked Questions
To qualify for home care in Alberta, you need to undergo a professional assessment to determine if you have an “unmet need for care.” This could include mobility issues, need for assistance with daily activities, or medical instability. Contact Health Link at 811 to start the assessment process.
Qualifying for assisted living in Alberta typically involves a similar assessment process to home care. You’ll need to demonstrate a need for daily assistance that can’t be met in your current living situation. Contact Alberta Health Services for a detailed assessment.
Home care in Alberta is often publicly funded by Alberta Health Services (AHS). However, some costs may be the responsibility of the individual, such as accommodation fees. The Client Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI) program allows for more flexibility in choosing providers while still using public funding.
Generally, all residents of Alberta are eligible for Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) coverage. This includes Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and certain temporary residents who make Alberta their home.
The Client Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI) program in Alberta allows individuals receiving AHS Public Home Care to choose their care provider from a list of AHS-approved agencies. The chosen provider bills directly through Alberta Blue Cross.
A client-directed home care program, like CDHCI in Alberta, allows clients to have more control over their care. It enables them to choose their care provider from approved options, while still benefiting from public funding.
Home care in Alberta typically provides services such as personal care (bathing, dressing), medication management, wound care, physical therapy, and occupational therapy. Private agencies may offer additional services like companionship and housekeeping.
Yes, Alberta Health Services provides publicly funded home care services to eligible individuals. However, some services or extended care may require additional private payment.
Alberta Health Care doesn’t typically cover services like dental care, optometry, or prescription drugs (outside of hospitals). For home care, it may not cover certain personal preference services or extended hours of care beyond what’s deemed medically necessary.
The Alberta health care system entitles residents to medically necessary physician and hospital services. For home care, this can include nursing care, personal care assistance, and rehabilitation services as determined by a needs assessment.
Alberta Health Services offer a wide range of health services, including hospital care, continuing care, mental health services, and public health programs. In terms of home care, they offer assessment, personal care, nursing, and rehabilitation services.
The Self-Managed Care (SMC) program in Alberta allows eligible individuals to receive funding to hire their own care providers directly. This program offers more flexibility but requires more responsibility in managing care.
Public care is funded by the government and typically covers essential services. Private care is paid for by the individual and often offers more personalized services, longer visits, and additional options like companionship and housekeeping.
The cost of home care in Alberta varies depending on whether it’s public or private, the level of care needed, and the specific services required. Public home care is often free for eligible individuals, while private care costs can vary widely.
Alberta Health Services (AHS) is a public health care system, funded by the Government of Alberta. It’s responsible for delivering health services to Albertans across the province.