Long-Term Care in Calgary

What Long-Term Care Is

Long-term care facilities provide:

• 24-hour nursing care — Registered nurses and licensed practical nurses on-site around the clock.
• Medical management — For chronic diseases, complex medication needs, wound care, palliative care.
• Personal care — Bathing, dressing, toileting, grooming, feeding assistance.
• Meal service and nutrition — Specialized diets, feeding assistance.
• Activities and social programs — For residents who are able to participate.
• Rehabilitation services — Physical therapy, occupational therapy (sometimes).

Long-term care is for people who have medical complexity that requires nursing-level supervision — not just personal care assistance, but actual medical care. Examples include:

• Advanced dementia requiring 24-hour supervision and nursing care
• Severe mobility loss requiring total assistance and wound management
• Complex medication regimens requiring nursing administration
• End-of-life / palliative care needs
• Medical complications from multiple chronic conditions

How Placement Works in Alberta

You cannot simply apply to a long-term care facility directly. AHS manages the entire process.

Here's how it works:

1. AHS Assessment: Your doctor refers your family member to AHS Continuing Care. AHS assesses the individual's medical and care needs.
2. Determining Eligibility: AHS determines whether long-term care is medically necessary. Not everyone who wants it will qualify — AHS reserves long-term care for those with genuine medical complexity.
3. Priority Ranking: If eligible, AHS places the person on a waitlist ranked by medical priority (highest medical need gets placed first).
4. Placement by AHS: When a bed becomes available, AHS assigns it to the highest-priority person on the list. You don't get to choose the facility — AHS places you where space is available.
5. Notification and Placement: You are notified of the placement, and admission follows within days or weeks depending on health stability.

Important: The wait for publicly-funded long-term care can be significant — sometimes months. If an admission is urgent, families may need to use private-pay assisted living or respite care as a temporary bridge while waiting for AHS placement.

What Long-Term Care Costs

AHS-Funded Long-Term Care

AHS pays for the nursing and medical care. The resident/family pays an accommodation charge (co-payment):

• Standard room: approximately $60/day (roughly $1,800/month) — adjusted based on income
• Private room: higher rate (if available)
• Rates are set by AHS and reviewed annually
• Residents with limited income may qualify for reductions

Example: If the accommodation charge is $1,800/month and nursing/care costs are $6,000/month, AHS subsidizes $4,200 and the family pays $1,800.

Private Long-Term Care Beds

Some facilities have private-pay (non-AHS) beds available. These are usually more expensive but have no waitlist:

• Monthly costs: $3,500–$7,000+ depending on facility and private room status
• Immediate admission available
• Family pays the full cost (AHS does not subsidize)

Major Long-Term Care Operators in Calgary

• Carewest — AHS-operated facility. Main public long-term care provider in Calgary.
• Bethany Care Society — Faith-based non-profit operator with long-term care facilities.
• Extendicare — Large national private operator with Calgary locations.
• CapitalCare — Non-profit operator with senior care facilities in Alberta.
• Covenant Health — Faith-based health operator with long-term care facilities.
• Additional independent and smaller operators across Calgary

The Real Estate Dimension

When a spouse or parent enters long-term care, the family home often must be sold. This happens for several critical reasons:

• Funding the co-payment: Even though it's subsidized, the $1,800+/month accommodation charge adds up. Many families use home sale proceeds to fund this ongoing cost.
• Estate settlement: The home is often the largest asset. If the person entering care no longer has capacity, the family (through POA) may need to sell to settle the estate or fund family needs.
• Simplifying life for the remaining spouse: A spouse left at home may not be able to afford property taxes, utilities, and maintenance alone. Selling and downsizing simplifies life and frees up funds.
• Logistics: A large empty family home becomes a burden to maintain, heat, and manage — especially if the remaining spouse has mobility or health challenges.

These are some of the most time-sensitive and emotionally complex real estate transactions. Families are often dealing with a loved one's declining health, medical decisions, and the weight of managing a major sale at the same time. Kenton's SRES® training covers this exact territory — helping families navigate both the care transition and the real estate piece without rushing either decision.

Power of Attorney & Real Estate Decisions

This is critical: If the person entering long-term care no longer has legal capacity to make decisions, an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA) must be in place before selling the family home.

• Who signs real estate documents? The person with EPA authority (the "attorney-in-fact") — not the person in care (if they lack capacity).
• Why this matters: Title companies and lawyers require documented legal authority. Without a valid EPA signed while the person still had capacity, the home cannot be sold even in genuine family emergencies.
• Timing: This is why it's crucial to have EPA documents prepared while a person still has capacity — before long-term care becomes necessary.
• Multiple attorneys-in-fact: Some EPAs name multiple people to act together. Know who has authority and whether they agree on major decisions like selling the home.

If you're dealing with a family home sale and the person who owns the home is in long-term care without a valid EPA, consult an elder law lawyer immediately. There are legal processes (guardianship, court order) to address this, but they take time and cost money that could have been avoided.

Resources

• AHS Continuing Care: alberta.ca/continuing-care-accommodation-costs — Official information about AHS long-term care and placement.
• Kerby Centre: kerbycentre.com — Guidance on navigating long-term care transitions and other senior resources.
• Family Lawyer / Elder Law Specialist: For questions about POA, estate planning, and real estate decisions during care transitions.

Next Steps If Long-Term Care Is Being Considered

• Contact AHS Home Care to understand assessment and eligibility — don't wait for a crisis.
• Check that a valid EPA is in place — if the person still has capacity to sign, this should be your immediate priority.
• Understand the financial picture — monthly care costs, home value, available assets, timeline.
• If a home sale is likely, plan early — don't list in panic. Give yourself time to properly prepare the market and find the right buyer.
• Talk to specialists — elder law lawyer (legal questions), accountant (financial/tax), and yes, an SRES® agent if real estate is part of the picture.