Complete guide to Canadian hospital aged care services — geriatric services, long-term care (LTC) transition, dementia care, provincial LTC systems, ALC management, and aged care software.
ALC patients occupy 15-25% of Canadian hospital beds waiting for LTC. 750,000+ Canadians have dementia. This guide covers Canadian aged care.
Aged Care Services
| Service | Description | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Home care | Nursing, personal care at home | Provincial (partially funded) |
| Assisted living | Supportive housing | Private + provincial subsidy |
| LTC | 24/7 nursing care home | Provincial + co-payment |
| Retirement home | Independent living with services | Private |
| Adult day programme | Day programme for seniors | Provincial + fee |
| Respite care | Short-stay for caregiver respite | Provincial + fee |
| Geriatric assessment | Comprehensive geriatric assessment | Provincial |
Hospital-to-LTC Transition
- ALC identification: Identify patient as ALC (no longer needs acute care)
- LTC assessment: Provincial assessment for LTC eligibility
- LTC application: Apply to LTC homes (patient/family chooses)
- Wait list: Wait for LTC placement (months to years)
- Transitional care: Transitional care unit while waiting (if available)
- LTC placement: Place patient in LTC home
- Clinical handover: Comprehensive clinical handover to LTC
- Follow-up: Post-placement follow-up
Dementia Care
- Dementia-friendly design: Clear signage, lighting, safe spaces
- Dementia care training: Mandatory training for all staff
- Wandering management: Safe wandering areas and monitoring
- Behaviour management: Non-pharmacological first, antipsychotics last resort
- Family support: Alzheimer Society partnership, caregiver support
- Advance care planning: Early advance care planning for dementia patients
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does Canadian long-term care (LTC) work?
- Canadian LTC is provincially administered. LTC homes provide 24/7 nursing care for people who can no longer live independently. Eligibility: provincial assessment (e.g., CCAC/Home and Community Care in Ontario, health authority in BC). Wait times for LTC vary (months to years). LTC is partially publicly funded (residents pay co-payment for accommodation). Private LTC options also exist.
- What is ALC and how does it relate to aged care?
- ALC (Alternate Level of Care) patients are hospital patients who no longer need acute care but are waiting for LTC placement. ALC patients occupy 15-25% of Canadian hospital beds. ALC is caused by: 1) LTC wait lists, 2. Insufficient LTC capacity, 3. Home care gaps. Solutions: 1) LTC bed expansion, 2. Home care packages, 3. Transitional care units, 4. ALC placement teams.
- How does Canada support dementia care?
- Canadian dementia care: 1) National Dementia Strategy (2025 target), 2. Provincial dementia care programmes, 3. Alzheimer Society of Canada support, 4. Dementia-friendly hospital initiatives, 5. Dementia care training for staff, 6. Caregiver support programmes. 750,000+ Canadians have dementia (expected to double by 2031). Hospitals should have dementia-friendly design and care protocols.