Edmonton... The Alberta government has accepted the Achieving Excellence in Continuing Care report in principle and announced its first strategies to begin responding to the report's recommendations. Some of the most urgent concerns are being responded to immediately by funding more care hours and expanding benefits for low-income Albertans in supportive living and long-term care.

"The task force brought forward many health-related recommendations, with particular emphasis on staffing and safety. I think the steps we are taking here go a long way to improving the quality of care for residents," said Iris Evans, Minister of Health and Wellness.

"The changes will make a difference to many Albertans in continuing care," said Yvonne Fritz, Minister of Seniors and Community Supports. "Bridging the current gap in assistance will help more Albertans to live in the most appropriate setting for their needs, whether it's a lodge, supportive living, or long-term care facility."

The two ministries have committed over $36 million in new funding for this budget year to respond to the most pressing recommendations. Alberta Health and Wellness will use $26.3 million to:

• ensure health regions increase paid hours of care per resident from 3.1 to 3.4 per day;
• implement a safe lift policy in all nursing homes and auxiliary hospitals;
• speed up implementation of new resident assessment and care planning tools; and
• review medication use and administration in continuing care facilities.

Alberta Seniors and Community Supports will use $10 million to:

• increase the current benefits that assist low-income seniors and AISH clients in long-term care (e.g. nursing homes and auxiliary hospitals);
• bridge the gap in benefits that assist low-income seniors and AISH clients with the accommodation costs in long-term care to include clients in designated assisted living facilities. Payments retroactive to January 2006 will be made in the April benefit month;
• enhance grants for many seniors lodges to better respond to the needs of seniors and address growing operating costs, retroactive to April 2005.

The task force also recommended that new and updated health service and accommodation standards be put in place for all continuing care facilities, including lodges, supportive living and long-term care. The standards will be implemented this year, as will be new monitoring, reporting, enforcement and concerns resolution processes, which were also recommended in the report.

The report's recommendations will be further addressed in the coming fiscal year.

The Achieving Excellence in Continuing Care report was developed by the task force through extensive consultation with Albertans and their families, including forums with residents, caregivers, medical professionals, facility operators, advocacy groups and industry stakeholders.

The report is available at www.continuingcare.gov.ab.ca along with summaries of the stakeholder meetings and background documents, including the draft Continuing Care Health Service and Accommodation Standards.

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Attachment: Details on continuing care improvements

Backgrounder

Alberta Health and Wellness - $26.3 million:

• $15.2 million to support regional health authorities in increasing paid nursing and personal care hours per day per resident from 3.1 to 3.4. Although some regions have already reached the established target of 3.4 hours per day, the increase in care hours required additional funding to avoid financial shortfall.
• $7.5 million to implement a safe lift policy in all long-term care facilities (e.g. auxiliary hospitals and nursing homes). Ceiling lifts and electric beds promote better safety for both residents and caregivers, assisting in lifts and transfers.
• $3 million to speed up the ongoing implementation of resident care needs assessment and care planning tools. These tools will provide better tracking of a resident's health, assist in personalized care planning and provide standard data that will be comparable between regions.
• $600,000 to implement an immediate review and upgrade of medication management practices in all long-term care facilities in response to the recommendations of the Auditor General and the MLA Task Force.

Alberta Seniors and Community Supports - $10 million:

• $5.3 million to increase the benefits to long-term care residents who receive the Alberta Seniors Benefit (ASB) or the Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) benefit, and provide the same level of support to those receiving assistance while residing in designated assisted living facilities. This will assist Albertans to live in the continuing care environment that best meets their needs. The maximum benefits will rise from $7,335 to $9,660 for ASB and from $17,430 to $20,810 for AISH, retroactive to January 1, 2006.
• $4.7 million to increase grants for those seniors lodges providing a high level of support for residents. Older and more frail seniors are living in lodges, and they require additional support services like special diets, more than weekly housekeeping services and other personal assistance. Increased grants will assist those lodges that provide these services. The grants will rise from $7.50 to $9.00 per lodge resident per day for those lodges providing additional services, retroactive to April 2005.

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