CHAT News File Photo

By Chris Brown

31 communities listed

Medicine Hat not on list of communities targeted for more continuing care spaces

Sep 1, 2020 | 2:52 PM

Medicine Hat is not among 31 communities listed as the province seeks to create more spaces for seniors and vulnerable people in Alberta.

Alberta Health Services is seeking expressions of interest from existing continuing care operators to add publicly-funded spaces without any extra capital funding.

In a release, the government says this initiative builds on the Affordable Supportive Living Initiative (ASLI) and targets communities across the province with the most pressing need for new spaces.

Nearby communities on the list are Bow Island and Brooks/Bassano.

“Seniors and vulnerable Albertans deserve high-quality continuing care close to home; and too many Albertans are waiting in hospital for continuing care spaces,” says Health Minister Tyler Shandro. “This initiative is part of our larger commitment to add continuing care spaces so seniors and vulnerable people can get the care they need in the communities they love.”

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The province says interested operators in priority communities are invited to submit proposals through an expression of interest (EOI) process if they have the capacity to operate new continuing care spaces, under contract with AHS.

Jennifer McCue, board chair, Alberta Continuing Care Association, calls this a smart and sensible approach that will benefit Alberta seniors in communities across the province.

“Every Albertan wants to age in grace and dignity, close to family and friends. Targeting priority communities means that more Albertans will have quicker access to continuing care closer to home.”

• City of Calgary, including Chestermere
• Airdrie, including Crossfield
• Red Deer
• Spruce Grove / Stony Plain
• City of Edmonton
• City of Grande Prairie
• St. Paul
• High Level / Fort Vermilion
• Pincher Creek
• Fort Macleod
• Bow Island
• Lethbridge including Raymond / Magrath
• Brooks / Bassano
• Okotoks-Priddis including Black Diamond
• Vulcan
• Strathmore
• Cochrane-Springbank
• Olds
• Three Hills / Trochu / Linden
• Lamont
• Vermilion
• Strathcona County including Sherwood Park
• Leduc County
• St. Albert
• Jasper
• Hinton
• Mayerthorpe
• Westlock / Redwater
• Bonnyville
• Athabasca
• Wabasca

As of March, there are 27,518 continuing care spaces in Alberta and the average wait for a move into a continuing care facility was 54 days in 2019-20.

As of March 31, AHS operates 103 continuing care facilities in Alberta. There are also 126 privately operated facilities and 124 non-profit facilities offering continuing care services. Currently, about 400 Albertans are waiting in acute care for continuing care spaces to become available.