WHAT CARE CHOICES
DO WE HAVE?

TERM

DEFINITION

Home Support

Home support services help seniors to remain independent and to live in their own home as long as possible.  Home support services are non-medical in nature and can include meal preparation & delivery, bathing and dressing, grooming,  toileting, assistance with mobility, clean-up, laundry of soiled bedding or clothing, security checks and friendly visiting, among others.

Home support services can be paid for privately through home health organizations, or publicly-subsidized through the government for eligible seniors. To learn more about private-pay home support services contact home health organizations directly. To learn more about publicly-subsidized home support services provided through the BC Ministry of Health, click here:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/home-support

Home Care

Home Care Services, also called Community Nursing, are personal care, skilled nursing and specialized therapies delivered to the client in their own home. These services can be provided temporarily or on an ongoing basis. Services can include needs assessment, planning and providing care, or teaching clients to care for themselves. Visiting health professionals include nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, speech-language pathologists and dietitians.

Home care services can be paid for privately through home health organizations, or publicly-subsidized through the government for eligible seniors. To learn more about private-pay home care services contact home health organizations directly. To learn more about publicly-subsidized home care services provided through the BC Ministry of Health, click here:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/community-nursing

Independent Living

A combination of housing and hospitality services for retired adults who are functionally independently and capable of directing their own care. May also be referred to as Supportive, Retirement or Congregate Living. Services provided include meals, housekeeping, monitoring and emergency support, social and recreational opportunities, transportation, etc.

Independent Living is usually paid for privately, and not eligible for public subsidy. To learn more about independent living options, contact retirement homes directly.

Assisted Living

Assisted Living residences provide accommodation, health care and hospitality services in a home-like, residential setting. Services typically include meals, social and recreational programs, 24-hour emergency response, laundry and housekeeping services, supervision or administration of medications and varying degrees of assistance with the activities of daily living such as bathing, dressing and the like. Nursing services may or may not be provided.

Assisted Living services can be paid for privately, or publicly-subsidized through the government for eligible seniors. To learn more about private-pay Assisted Living services, contact the assisted living residence directly. To learn more about publicly-subsidized assisted living services, click here:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/assisted-living

Residential Care

Residential care services provide 24-hour professional supervision and care in a protective, supportive environment (also called long-term care, complex care or a nursing home). Residential Care is geared to persons requiring ongoing, 24-hour supervision, personal nursing care, and/or treatment by skilled nursing staff. Seniors living with dementia, those with significant physical incapacity, and those who require unscheduled and frequent high-level nursing care are all suited to live in residential care.

Residential Care services can be paid for privately, or publicly-subsidized through the government for eligible seniors. To learn more about private-pay Residential Care services, contact the residential care home  directly. To learn more about publicly-subsidized residential care services, click here:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/long-term-residential-care

TERM

DEFINITION

Unsubsidized

Unsubsidized care services (such as residential care, assisted living suites etc.) are care services that are available for immediate, direct purchase and are considered separate from publicly-subsidized care through the government.  Also refered to as ‘private-pay.’ Many seniors care services in BC can be either publicly-subsidized purchased privately. For further information, click here:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/care-options-and-cost/publicly-subsidized-or-private-pay-services

Vacant Unsubsidized

Refers to private-pay residential care beds or assisted living suites that are currently available, and can be accessed by contacting the residence directly.

Campus of Care

A ‘campus of care’ is a a seniors care residence that offers more than one level of care at the same location. For example, a campus of care may have a retirement community, assisted living residence, and a residential care home all at the same street address.

BCCPA Member

BCCPA Members are non-government organizations that provide seniors care services in British Columbia. They may be private, non-profit or denominational organizations. They provide a range of seniors care services, including  residential care, assisted living, home care, and home support, in British Columbia. Many also provide independent living. BCCPA Members may provide publicly-subsidized or unsubsidized care services, or a combination of the two. BCCPA Members adhere to our enhanced code of ethics. For further information click here:

http://www.bccare.ca/code-ethics/

Government Owned and Operated

Government Owned and Operated care providers are seniors care residences that are owned by the BC government and operated by one of the five regional health authorities (see below). These care providers offer only publicly-subsidized services, such as assisted living, residential care, and home health services.

Health Authority

In British Columbia, regional health care services are delivered by government sub-organizations called Health Authorities. There are five: Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal, Vancouver Island, Interior, and Northern. For further information, click here:

http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/about-bc-s-health-care-system/partners/health-authorities/regional-health-authorities

Semi-Private Room

A double room shared by two residents.To learn more about semi-private rooms, click here:

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Multi-Person Room

A room shared by three to five residents. To learn more about multi-bed rooms, click here:

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