Alberta Index - HOUSING: 8,700 low-income residents to receive assistance to help pay for higher accommodation fees

HOUSING: 8,700 low-income residents to receive assistance to help pay for higher accommodation fees

(AlbertaIndex, August 13, Thursday) --- Approximately 8,700 low-income residents will receive assistance through the Alberta Seniors Benefit (ASB) and Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped (AISH) programs to fully or partially covering the increased cost of accommodation at long-term care facilities. From November 1, maximum fees allowable for accommodations in Alberta’s long-term care facilities will be increased by seven per cent to reflect rising operating costs.

Long-term care accommodation fees cover the costs of providing accommodations and services such as meals, housekeeping, utilities and building maintenance.

AISH clients will be fully covered for the increase. Low-income seniors receiving benefits under the Alberta Seniors Benefit program will have the increase either fully or partially funded depending on their income. The minimum monthly disposable income for seniors in long-term care is the highest of any province.

The current increase will raise the maximum accommodation fee to $54.25 for a private room, an increase of $3.50 per day; $47.00 for a semi-private room, an increase of $3.00 per day; and $44.50 for standard ward room, an increase of $3.00 per day.

This increase is expected to provide operators with more than $17 million annually for increased costs for labour, supplies, food and utilities. The last adjustment to accommodation fees occurred in 2007.

“We are taking the needed steps to make sure that long-term care operators can continue providing quality accommodation services and that low-income seniors and persons with disabilities who reside in long-term care facilities will be able to afford their accommodation fees,” said Mary Anne Jablonski, Minister of Seniors and Community Supports.

“This increase in the maximum long-term care accommodation fees is needed to help address rising costs for operators and will help maintain quality accommodations for residents. Even with this increase, Alberta’s accommodation fees continue to be among the lowest in Canada.”

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