How Does Long-Term Care Work?

The Role of Long-Term Care

British Columbia’s publicly funded long-term care communities provide care and support to approximately 28,000 individuals and their families. Long-term care services are provided to individuals who need 24-hour professional nursing supervision and care and can no longer be supported in their own homes. For people with disabilities and those who have complex care needs, long-term care communities provide a protective and supportive care environment.

BC has both private and publicly-subsidized long-term care homes. Please contact one of our communities at https://siennaliving.ca/long-term-continuing-care/british-columbia/ for more information on both private pay and funded access.

Individuals with the highest need and urgency have priority for placement in publicly-subsidized long-term care communities. A health professional or care manager from the Health Authority can provide information on publicly-subsidized communities in your area, the process for admission, information on services provided, and applicable costs. In addition, your regional Health Authority website provides information on publicly-subsidized long-term care in your area.

• Fraser Health Authority: https://www.fraserhealth.ca/longtermcare#.Yyw6pKTMJnI
• Interior Health Authority: https://www.interiorhealth.ca/health-and-wellness/child-community-and-home-care/long-term-care

How Long-Term Care Works

All long-term care communities in British Columbia are licensed under the Community Care & Assisted Living Act. More information about licensed long-term care communities, including recent inspection reports, may be found at Long-Term Care Services – Province of British Columbia. All long-term care homes must meet quality standards as outlined within provincial Regulation. These standards guide the practicing requirements for each licensee related to building requirements, staffing and management, recreation activities, record keeping, health and hygiene, nutrition and medication management.

The Health Authority provides a total fixed amount of money annually to a senior living provider in order to achieve the deliverables set out in the services contract. Within this framework, Health Authorities specify the number of direct care hours per day an operator is expected to provide, amongst other specified funding accountabilities.

Home & Community Care offices within each Health Authority determine who is eligible to be admitted to funded long-term care, and manage the wait lists. Private providers partner with the Health Authorities to accept admissions into funded suites, while managing their own admissions and wait lists for private pay suites.

Publicly Subsidized/Funded Home & Community Care Services:

• Are accessed through the Health Authority;
• Are accessed by the individual/representative who meets general provincial eligibility criteria and agrees to participate in a formal assessment that is conducted by their Health Authority and are assessed as having needs that can be met by the services; and
• Are subsidized by the Ministry of Health and administered and delivered by the Health Authorities and other contracted providers.

Private Pay Services:

• Are accessed by the individual directly from the service provider;
• Each individual can compare services that best meet their needs and preferences;
• All aspects of service provision are agreed to by the individual and the service provider; and
• Government does not provide any financial assistance to individuals or service providers for the service.