Finding Your Way: Exploring Healthcare Supports and Home Services in Alberta

Understanding what Caregiving Options are Available and How to Get Started

Trying to figure out healthcare and home services for the older adult in your life can feel overwhelming. Between different programs, eligibility rules, and service options, it’s easy to feel lost.

The good news is that with a clear, step-by-step approach, you can feel informed, confident, and empowered to make decisions that work for your family.

As we mentioned last month, Alberta’s health and continuing care system has recently changed. Assisted Living Alberta now oversees home and supportive living services, adding another layer to an already complex system.

This month in our Finding Your Way series, we’ll focus on how to access healthcare supports and home services, and how to combine them effectively for the person you care for.

Step 1: Understanding What Healthcare Supports are Available

Supports generally fall into three areas:

1. Publicly funded services

   These include home and supportive living services managed by Assisted Living Alberta, such as personal support, nursing visits, therapies, and social or community programs.

2. Private services

   Paid out-of-pocket or through insurance, these may include personal care, companion services, home cleaning, meal delivery, and private therapy sessions.

3. Community-based supports

   Non-profit organizations provide transportation, day programs, social activities, and sometimes respite or volunteer support. Many are subsidized or offered on a sliding scale.

Understanding these categories helps you see how services can work together to meet the needs of the older adult in your life.

Step 2: Getting Started with Assisted Living Alberta

Assisted Living Alberta (ALA) is now your starting point for publicly funded home and supportive living services. Here’s a practical approach:

1. Request an assessment

   Either you, a health professional or the older adult can contact ALA to schedule an assessment. A professional will review needs and eligibility for services.

   
   

2. Understand the plan

   The assessment considers health, mobility, cognitive function, and the supports already available at home. Services are approved and scheduled based on these needs.

3. Adjust as needed

   Needs change over time. You can request a reassessment if additional support is required, such as after a hospital stay or a change in health.

Step 3: Combining Public and Private Senior Care Supports

Sometimes ALA services aren’t enough to cover all needs, or families need more flexibility with scheduling. A blend of public, private, and community services often works best.

Tips for combining services effectively:

• Create a master schedule: Include ALA visits, private caregiver hours, therapies, and appointments. This reduces overlap and confusion.

• Track costs: Keep a clear record of private service expenses.

• Communicate openly: Make sure all providers know the plan and any changes.

• Review regularly: Reassess every few months or after any health changes.

A well-coordinated mix gives both you and the older adult consistency and reliability, which is especially important for someone with memory or mobility challenges.

Step 4: Explore Additional Supports For Older Adults

Beyond ALA and private services, there are programs that can help fill gaps:

• Alberta 211: Connects you to local services like transportation, meal programs, respite, and social activities.

• Health Link 811: Offers 24/7 access to registered nurses for health advice, symptom assessment, and guidance on where to seek care.

• Financial assistance programs: Some older adults qualify for subsidies or benefits to help with home support costs.

• Non-profit and volunteer programs: Many organizations provide supports such as companionship, meal delivery, transportation, and respite day programs.

  
  

These services can reduce isolation, support independence, and help families balance caregiving with other responsibilities.

Step 5: Putting It All Together

Here are some guiding principles to make the system manageable:

• Start with an assessment: Understand what supports are available and what is truly needed.

• Combine wisely: Use public services as a base and fill gaps with private or community options, if you’re able.

• Stay organized: Keep schedules, contacts, program names, and expenses clear and documented in one place.

• Adjust as needed: Supports should evolve as needs change.

  
  

Taking the time to map out supports and coordinate them thoughtfully ensures that both you and the older adult feel confident, safe, and supported.

Looking Ahead

One important program many families don’t know about lets you supplement public home care with private agencies, giving flexibility, consistency, and choice over who provides care and when.

This program often isn’t mentioned during assessments, which is why so many families miss out. We’ll cover this in depth in Part Three of Finding Your Way next month, including how it works, who it benefits, and practical tips for accessing it.

If you haven’t already, check out Part One of Finding Your Way, Navigating Supports for Older Adults, to get the broader picture of how all the pieces fit together.

Each blog builds on the last, giving you practical tools to navigate the system with confidence.