Facility living differs from supportive living in that it:
· Cares for residents with medical conditions that may be serious, chronic and/or unpredictable and require access to registered nursing services on a 24-hour basis;
· Provides 24-hour registered nursing care from nursing staff who are able to respond immediately and on a sustained and unscheduled basis;
· Has health professionals that are able to respond to the need for unscheduled assessments and prescribe interventions;
· Has specialized physical design and infrastructure to address highly complex needs; and
· Is governed by the Nursing Homes Act or the Hospitals Act.[145]
Facility living includes nursing homes and auxiliary hospitals (a hospital for the treatment of long-term or chronic illnesses, diseases or infirmities).[146] The provincial government estimates that there are approximately 14,400 people living in approximately 200 long-term care facilities.[147]
All long-term care facilities are subject to the provincial Long-Term Care Accommodation Standards. Similar to the Supportive Living Accommodation Standards, there are eight broad themes and detailed standards within the Long-Term Care Accommodation Standards: physical environment; coordination and referral services; hospitality services; residential services; safety services; human resources; personal services and management and administration.[148]
All long-term care facilities receiving public funding must also follow the Continuing Care Health Service Standards.
The cost to a resident for facility living is $54.25 for a private room, $47.00 for a semi-private room and $44.50 for a standard ward room.[149] The provincial government pays the health-associated costs.
Legal Protections
Protection for Persons in Care Act
The Protection for Persons in Care Act[150] applies to all adults in publicly funded care facilities, including hospitals, seniors’ lodges and nursing homes. Private supportive living operators (e.g., where the residents do not receive public funds) are not covered by the Protection for Persons in Care Act. However, all supportive living operators are required to develop and maintain policies and procedures requiring all employees to receive education on identification, prevention and reporting of abuse or suspected abuse of residents.
Pursuant to this legislation, every individual or service provider who has reasonable and probable grounds to believe that there is or has been abuse against a client shall report such abuse.[151] A telephone hotline is available to report abuse cases.[152]
Complaints are investigated by individuals who are not government employees but are hired under contract and are external to the agencies involved in the allegations. The investigators come from various backgrounds, such as criminology, nursing and social work, and have expertise in areas such as long-term care, mental health, law enforcement and experience working with seniors or persons with developmental disabilities.[153]
After completing an investigation, the investigator will make recommendations to Alberta Seniors and Community Supports, which may include reviewing the facility’s funding, recommending that an employee be disciplined or dismissing the report if there is no reason to believe abuse has occurred.[154] Alberta Seniors and Community Supports will then make a decision based on these recommendations.
The definition of abuse in the Protection for Persons in Care Act requires intent.[155] Consequently, many reported complaints do not meet this high legislative threshold.[156] The Legislative Review Committee studied the legislation in 2003 and recommended removing the requirement of intent. While the issue of intent is important, they noted that it “should not be the critical component in the definition of abuse” but should “instead focus on the harm or potential harm to the client, rather than the apparent state of mind of the alleged abuser.”[157] No such changes have been initiated.
Health Facilities Review Committee
The Health Facilities Review Committee Act establishes a committee responsible for regularly reviewing and inspecting long-term care facilities and investigating complaints or concerns about care, treatment and standards of accommodation in facility living.[158] However, “the Committee does not have the mandate to determine whether a facility is in compliance with or in contravention of standards set out in the Nursing Homes Act and Regulations, or to enforce the standards or to impose sanctions.”[159]
The Committee is comprised of two members of the Legislative Assembly and ten private citizens. The positions are part-time and members are not employees of the provincial government.[160]
The Committee performs surprise inspections but, in practice, they only inspect each facility approximately every three years.[161] If a complaint involves personal health information, the Committee’s rules require permission from the complainant or their legal guardian to investigate complaints.[162] Consequently, many complaints about facilities are never investigated, although they may be considered during the next routine review.[163] The Committee also restricts its investigations to those made by or on behalf of a specific patient, not complaints involving more than one person.
After its investigation, the Committee sends a report to the relevant parties, as well as the Minister of Health and Wellness. The homes are asked to respond in writing within 90 days, indicating the actions undertaken to address the recommendations. The Committee will follow-up if the response is not satisfactory.[164]
Spencer summarized the impact of the Committee’s rules on its work:
As a result of these rules, between 2003 and 2006, almost seventy percent of the private complaints made were not investigated because the forms were not returned. In 2003/4, the investigation process took over a year in each of the 6 private complaints heard. In 2004/5, only one private complaint was conducted and concluded in the year, and in 2005/6 only three complaints for long term care (out of eighteen complaints) were conducted and concluded.[165]
Ombudsman
The Ombudsman in Alberta has jurisdiction to investigate complaints about the patient concern resolution processes of hospitals, as well as long-term care facilities.[166]
NOVA SCOTIA
Regulation of Congregate Settings
Assisted Living Facilities
Assisted living facilities, or “enriched living,” are privately owned facilities where residents are independent older adults who do not require substantial care but may be in need of some services (e.g., meals, housekeeping). Residents must be cognitively capable and have the ability to make informed, voluntary decisions regarding care requirements and living ar