Also called supportive living in Alberta, assisted living offers housing, hospitality services, and personal assistance to seniors who can live independently, but need a little help with daily tasks. Assisted seniors living communities look very similar to independent living seniors communities – just with the addition of extra help with dressing, bathing, and medication monitoring (plus more) if residents need it.

But what makes someone eligible for assisted living in BC?

The answer on the surface is easy: if you require personal care and hospitality services, but are still self-directed and somewhat independently mobile, you may want to consider assisted living to get the proper care and support you need for healthy aging.

Where it gets complicated is the difference between publicly subsidized and private pay assisted living residences. Private pay is simple – if you want and need assisted living, you’ll be charged a market rate for accommodation and services, much like a hotel. However, publicly subsidized assisted living has a more complicated process.

To qualify for publicly subsidized assisted living, you must:

  • Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident and have lived in BC for at least 3 months
  • Require both hospitality services and personal care services
  • Be able to make your own decisions
  • Be at significant risk remaining in your current living environment
  • Agree to pay the assessed rate (based on your income) and any additional charges that will not be subsidized by the government
  • And have been assessed and referred by a health care professional or home and community care office in your health authority

Access to publicly funded assisted living is on a priority basis and, once you’ve met all the above criteria, your existing needs, supports, and the urgency of your situation will affect how soon you are able to access publicly funded assisted living. Your personal preferences and the availability of the limited government-funded care units also affect the amount of time you’ll wait.

For those looking for independence, with a little help, assisted living can be extremely helpful and life-giving. Families have peace of mind knowing that their loved one will have improved quality of life and seniors in assisted living can expect access to personalized care, nutritious meals, a wide range of social activities, and a safe home and community – all things that help to slow cognitive decline and keep seniors healthier and happier for longer.

Pacific Carlton Seniors Community is a non-profit organization, which means that, while we are a private pay seniors community, every dollar we earn goes back into the quality of living of our community. Our invested business approach allows us to provide affordable, fair market rates for quality housing, services, amenities, and hospitality. Independent suites starting from $3,500/month available now!