If you’re 65 or older
Are you looking for help to remain in your own home? Or do you want to explore other options such as caregiver supports or residential services?
If you do, the Long Term Care Program can help you explore what services may meet your specific care needs and goals. The LTC Program provides a range of personal supports, social and residential services to individuals who need help with daily activities to live as independently as possible.
The kinds of activities can be things like, but are not limited to:
- getting dressed
- bathroom assistance like toileting, washing, shaving, combing hair etc.
- bathing
- meal time assistance
- cooking a meal
- managing your medication
- light housekeeping
The type of help can range from needing someone to guide or supervise you completing a task safely, or someone completing the task for you.
Your eligibility to the program will not be based on a medical diagnosis. Rather, it is based on whether you need regular help over a long period of time that your spouse, family member or a friend is unable to support you with.
Through the Long Term Care Program you will be assessed, have a plan developed and services coordinated that best meet your goals. You may even qualify for financial help towards the cost of services. If you prefer not to go through the Long Term Care program you can access many of these supports on your own.
Would you like more flexibility and independence to manage the long term care services you receive at home? Click here to explore Self-Managed Support, a new option from the Long Term Care Program that gives you the choice to receive funding directly.
Common Services in the home
Home Support Services: provides help with daily activities such as getting dressed, grooming, bathing, meal time assistance and light housekeeping in your home. To learn more about home support services, click here.
Meals on Wheels: meal service that delivers prepared frozen or fresh and nutritious meals to your home. To learn more about accessing Meals on Wheels, click here.
Foot Care: eligible Long Term Care clients may be receive professional foot/nail care services from an approved provider.
Technology: eligible Long Term Care clients may be able to access two different types of technology; Personal Emergency Response System (for example, Lifeline) or Remote Monitoring (for example, Carelink).
Common Services to support caregivers
Adult Day Centers: provide meaningful activity outside of the home for persons living with dementia and related cognitive impairment in a group setting. To learn more about Adult Day Centres, click here.
Relief special care home placement: a planned period of relief in a special care home to a family or an individual providing care.
Home Support Respite: provides relief care or other supervisory supports in the senior’s home that are required for safety and/or to support a family unit or an individual providing care services to a senior in their home.
Licensed Residential Services
Special Care Homes: facilities that provide access to 24-hour supervision and help to people who may require some assistance and/or supervision with their daily activities. To learn more about Special Care Homes, click here.
Memory Care Homes: facilities that provide 24-hour supervision and help with daily living activities to seniors with a diagnosis of dementia. The facilities provide specialized care, support in an environment designed to help manage behaviours related to dementia. To learn more about Memory Care homes, click here.
Nursing Homes: facilities that provide senior with 24-hour supervision, help with daily living activities. Seniors require continuous onsite access to nursing assessment and care. To learn more about Nursing homes, click here.
The Long Term Care Program will coordinate supports to those who are eligible, and may cover a portion of the cost of your services.
To qualify for the Long Term Care Program, the following criteria need to be met:
- you must be 65 years of age or older
- you live in New Brunswick
- you consent to an assessment of your personal care and social needs, which is called a functional assessment
- you are medically stable. This means you are currently not receiving care and treatment that will significantly improve your condition
- you have limited ability to do your daily activities and have personal care needs that are currently not met by someone else
- services are required on a long-term basis
- you consent to financial assessment, if applicable*
*Financial assessments are only required if you feel you cannot pay the full the cost of your services without a subsidy from Social Development.
Whether or not you qualify for financial help will depend on your household income. If you qualify for a financial help, the amount you pay for services will be determined through a financial assessment. This assessment takes into consideration both your household income and the total cost of services. For more information on how to qualify financially read the document entitled Standard Family Contribution from Income.
Services provided by the Long Term Care Program are not covered by Medicare.
You can start the application process for the Long Term Care Program in two ways:
Online
Click the Apply Now button at the bottom of the page to continue to the online pre-screening tool. If it looks like you may be eligible after answering the pre-screening questions, you will be given the option to complete an application online.
Online applications are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can apply at your own convenience.
By Phone
Call Social Development at 1-833-733-7835 Monday to Friday, between 8:15 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Press 1 for English, or 2 for French.
Press 3 to talk to someone about services for seniors. Tell the representative you would like to apply for the Long Term Care Program.
If you are applying on behalf of someone else, make sure you have their permission.
Everyone who applies for the Long Term Care Program has the following assessment(s):
- Functional Assessment – A Social Worker will assess the amount of help you require to complete your daily activities. You and the Social Worker will also talk about the programs and services that can best meet your assessed needs and goals. You may have a family member or a caregiver present during this assessment if you choose.
- Financial Assessment (optional)- A Financial Needs Assessor will assess your eligibility for financial help towards the cost of services. This assessment is only required if you are applying for financial support.
The department of Social Development and the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) have a partnership to make it easier to provide financial information needed to assess eligibility for financial support.
If you are applying for financial help, you will need to complete the financial application for the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Process. If you apply by phone this form will be sent to you by mail. This form provides Social Development (SD) with permission to access Canada Revenue Agency's (CRA) information on your behalf. The CRA will send the required information to SD within 24 hours so that we can proceed with your application in a timely manner.
All information provided by CRA will remain confidential and will only be used to determine eligibility for financial support for services.
Financial forms and associated documents will need to be returned to your local Social Development office within 30 days. If you are anticipating a delay in returning the documents, call the Financial Needs Assessor listed on your application form to let them know.
Once both assessments are complete, they are reviewed to determine if you qualify for services.
The time it takes to complete the assessment process will vary depending on several factors such as:
- How long it takes you to complete/submit application requirements,
- Your health status
- Your Social Worker needing more information from other professionals (such as, your family physician, Extra Mural Nurse or Occupational Therapist or Mental Health professional)
- Mailing delays (if not applying online)
If you qualify for Long Term Care services, the Department of Social Development will help you arrange the services you may need.
Basic information such as name, date of birth, and contact information
Description of the type of activities help is needed for (for example; light housework, cooking, bathing)
Financial information for applicant and spouse (if applicable)