Do you or a loved one need a place to live where a care provider can help you with activities like bathing, dressing, and meal time assistance?
If you do, a Special Care Home may be a place where you can live and have access to round the clock help. Special Care Homes have trained staff on site 24 hours a day. The staff can offer help with personal care such as getting dressed or bathroom activities like bathing and toileting. Meals, help with medication and housekeeping services are provided by the Special Care Home, as well as social and recreational programming.
Special Care Homes are privately owned. Social Development is responsible for licensing and inspecting the homes annually. Special Care Homes are required to follow the department’s Standards and Procedures for Adult Residential Facilities. The Office of the Fire Marshal and Public Health also license and inspect the homes each year.
The inspection reports for Special Care Homes are posted online on a yearly basis. Inspection reports can be viewed by clicking here.
Adults aged 19 years of age or older who have social and personal care needs may be able to access Special Care Homes.
People who benefit from living in a Special Care Home meet the following criteria:
- You are eligible for services through either the Disability Support or Long Term Care programs;
- Your health status is stable. This means you are currently not receiving medical care and treatment that will significantly improve your condition;
- you may need some help or supervision with walking or using a wheelchair, but can generally do these activities on your own;
- You need a care provider to give you guidance or direction to complete your daily activities safely such as getting dressed, bathing, toileting and managing medications; and
- You do not require access to 24-hour nursing care.
Your eligibility will not be determined by the type of medical diagnosis you have. Some homes offer services for a specific clientele, such as seniors, adults with mental health needs, or adults with cognitive or developmental disabilities.
A Social Worker with the Disability Support (DSP) or Long Term Care (LTC) programs at Social Development (SD) can help you find out if your personal goals and care needs can be safely met in a Special Care Home.
The Disability Support Program is for adults between the ages of 19 and 64. The Long Term Care Program is for seniors, 65 years of age or older. To learn how you may qualify and apply through the Disability Support Program, click here, or the Long Term Care Program, click here.
Eligible clients may receive financial help to go towards the cost of living in a Special Care Home. To receive financial help a financial assessment would need to be completed. SD may pay a subsidy up to $117.82 per day or $3583.64 per month for services in a Special Care Home.
Some Special Care Homes may charge above $117.82 per day, this is not considered when calculating the subsidy offered by SD. Therefore, you are responsible for any additional cost.
If you qualify for Special Care Home services the following are some steps you are responsible for:
You will need to have a physician or nurse practitioner complete the Physical Examination and History form. Your Social Worker will provide this to you.
You will need to choose what Special Care Home you would like to move into. A complete list of Special Care Homes can be found by clicking here, or ask your Social Worker. It is recommended you visit the homes to help with your decision. Some questions to ask might be:
- Do you have any spaces currently available?
- What type of clientele do you typically have living in your home?
- How much do you charge a month to live in your home? Please note: Operators of Special Care Homes determine how much they charge. The amount the operators charge maybe higher than the costs the Social Development can provide a financial subsidy for.
- Do I have to share a bedroom?
- What type of social and recreational programming is available?
- Do you provide transportation to medical appointments? What is the cost?
- Are there any additional fees? (For example, cable, phone, internet)
- What is provided by the operator? (For example, furniture, bedding, towels)
- What personal belongings can I bring with me? (For example, chair, dresser, décor)
- Do you provide a menu, do residents have more than one option daily? (Talk about food restrictions or allergies you may have)
Once you have chosen a home, you will need to work with the operator and your Social Worker to choose the date you can move in.
You will need to arrange for payment with the Operator. If Social Development is providing financial help, the operator will deduct the amount from the cost of the service you will be required to pay.
If you are going to move into a Special Care Home, you will need to have a Physical Examination and History form completed by a physician or nurse practitioner. Some physician offices will charge a fee to complete the form.
Individual Special Care Homes may have additional forms to complete when you move in.
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