Assisted Living Options

About Assisted Living Services

Assisted Living services support your independence and help you continue to live in the community. Island Health provides Assisted Living in partnership with private and non-profit facility operators, often in cooperation with the Independent Living BC program. For more about Assisted Living in British Columbia, please visit the Assisted Living Registry.

Publicly subsidized Assisted Living is for seniors and people with physical disabilities who need a safe environment to live and help with daily tasks. It includes:

• rental accommodation
• hospitality services (meals, housekeeping, recreation supports, emergency response)
• personal care assistance

Read the Residential Care and Assisted Living Bed Summary.

For more information on sites, visit Assisted Living Locations.

Eligibility

Publicly funded Assisted Living units are in high demand. Placement is based on the urgency of the individual’s care needs.

Requirements to be considered for Assisted Living

• are at risk if they remain in their current environment
• have difficulty with meal preparation and housework
• require daily assistance with personal care such as
  
  medications, bathing and dressing
• are capable of making decisions safely (for example, finding their way around the building, participating in care planning, asking for help if they need it and taking direction in an emergency)
• are able to communicate with staff and others
• are able to make their way around in familiar places on their own
• are willing to accept assistance with personal care and attend meals in the dining room
• do not show any behaviors that could affect the health and safety of others

People who are able to make decisions on their own behalf can:

• function safely with the supports available in the residence
• recognize the consequences of taking risks
• find their way within the residence
• find their way back to the residence
• communicate effectively (verbally or non-verbally) so they are understood by others
• participate in the development and regular review of their care plan, or make their needs known to the person they live with who then participates in the development of the care plan
• recognize an emergency, use an emergency response system or summon help, and take direction in an emergency situation

What if my health changes?

You may continue to live in an Assisted Living residence as long as:

• your health condition is stable
• you can make decisions on your own behalf (or live with a spouse who is willing and able to make decisions on your behalf)
• your care needs, including end-of-life care, can be met in Assisted Living.

You will need to move to a more appropriate setting if:

• your health condition declines permanently
• your care needs increase significantly
• you are no longer able to make decisions on your own behalf

If that happens, your case manager will be able to help you through the process.

Selecting an Assisted Living Residence

After your case manager does an assessment and agrees you are eligible for Assisted Living, you will want to find an Assisted Living residence that is right for you.  Your case manager may help you select the most appropriate place based on your needs. You may also visit the Assisted Living Locations page to get an overview of your options.

Because vacancies at each Assisted Living residence vary, we cannot guarantee or accurately predict when a space will be available.  Some Assisted Living operators also offer private units at a market rental rate. You can contact an Assisted Living operator directly about private options.

Cost

The amount you pay each month for publicly subsidized Assisted Living depends on your income.

• The cost is 70% of your monthly after-tax income, up to a maximum amount
• If you receive disability benefits from the Ministry of Housing and Social Development, you pay a fixed client rate.

You make these payments to the Assisted Living operator each month, along with a small BC Hydro surcharge.

What services are included?

• a private lockable unfurnished suite that you furnish with your own belongings
• common dining room and social spaces
• two nutritious meals a day (lunch and dinner) in a common dining room
• weekly light housekeeping of your suite
• weekly laundering of your linens (sheets and towels)
• recreational activity programs
• 24-hour emergency response system
• scheduled personal care assistance appropriate to your needs which may include help with bathing, grooming, dressing, and medication management, as discussed with your Case Manager

What other costs am I responsible for?

• BC Hydro surcharge
• security / damage deposit
• tenant household insurance
• cable
• telephone
• internet
• foot care
• companion visits
• travel to medical appointments
• purchase of groceries (breakfast, snacks)

Complaints

We welcome your feedback and respond to complaints as part of our commitment to provide the highest quality of care.  If you have a complaint regarding your care in Assisted Living services please speak with the health care provider or manager first.  If you have a complaint that remains unresolved, the next step is to contact the Island Health Patient Care Quality Office.

Assisted Living Registrar

The Office of the Assisted Living Registrar for British Columbia  investigates complaints about the health and safety of Assisted Living residences.  If you have any concerns about the safety and security of an Assisted Living residence, or the health and safety of a person who lives there, you should first talk with a staff member.  If the concern is not resolved, you can make a complaint to the Assisted Living Registrar. 

More information is available on the Assisted Living Registry.