Alberta government moving forward with establishing Assisted Living Alberta , the provincial agency for continuing care; Sarah Hoffman, Alberta NDP Shadow Minister for Health, issues statement in response to the UCP government’s continuing care announcement
News Release
Refocusing continuing care for the future
As part of the health refocusing, Alberta’s government is moving forward with establishing Assisted Living Alberta – the provincial agency for continuing care.
By 2046, one in five Albertans will be 65 years of age or older. As their needs evolve, it is important that older adults and vulnerable populations have access to the support they need to maintain their quality of life and independence so they can age with dignity. Over the next 10 years, the demand for continuing care in Alberta is projected to grow by 80 per cent, increasing even faster as people live longer and with more complex needs.
Alberta’s government is establishing Assisted Living Alberta – the new provincial continuing care agency – as part of the province’s health refocusing. This will ensure the province is well-positioned to meet the future needs that are anticipated with Alberta’s both growing and aging population. Assisted Living Alberta will provide Albertans access to a comprehensive system of continuing care with a full range of wraparound services, including medical and non-medical supports, home care, community care and social services. This transition will allow the province to place a holistic social service lens on assisted living services to deliver care more effectively and consistently throughout the province. By taking this approach, individuals and families will have more options when they need care and as their needs evolve, helping older adults and vulnerable populations maintain their quality of life and independence.
“As the need for continuing care services in Alberta grows, I am committed to working with health, social services and continuing care professionals to transform the system and ensure the new provincial agency, Assisted Living Alberta, meets all Albertans’ needs. This change ensures Albertans have access to a full range of wraparound supports to meet their evolving needs and maintain their independence and quality of life as they age or require more support.”
Jason Nixon, Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services
Assisted Living Alberta is on track to be established and become an entity by April 1, and will be fully operational by fall 2025. The new agency will align medical and non-medical supports and services, increase continuing care spaces, reduce wait times, and provide comprehensive wraparound supports for Albertans who require different levels and types of care. This includes both seniors in long-term care and those who want to continue aging at home but need supports to do so, as well as people with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable Albertans who require temporary or long-term care. Refocusing Alberta’s health care system ensures all Albertans have access to the services and support they need, when and where they need it.
“Improving health care services is a top priority for our government. We are committed to addressing the urgent need for enhanced assisted living services across our growing province. I look forward to working alongside the Ministry of Seniors, Community and Social Services to bring Albertans more options and the high quality of care they need close to home.”
Adriana LaGrange, Minister of Health
Albertans currently receiving care, and those who need care, will continue to have access to the services they need. A transition committee led by Dr. Sayeh Zielke, author, cardiologist and medical director of Chinook Cardiology, along with leaders from health care, continuing care, social services and other local organizations, will provide the minister with advice to support this transformation. Committee members were chosen based on their experience, diverse perspectives, leadership and background in the continuing care and social services space. The committee’s work will be essential to ensuring a smooth and seamless transition with no disruptions.
“It is an honour to be playing a role in helping transform Alberta’s continuing care system. Our goal is to put patients and clients first and give our front-line workers the support they need, which is why it is so important that we are taking the time to gets things right and consulting directly with Albertans.”
Dr. Zielke, cardiologist and medical director of Chinook Cardiology and chair of the Assisted Living Transition Committee
Albertans are invited to share their feedback, support the stand up of Assisted Living Alberta and help shape the future of continuing care through online engagement that will be open from Jan. 30 to March 3 at Alberta.ca/lead-the-way. Continuing care providers and health care and continuing care workers will also have an opportunity to provide feedback through targeted engagement that will be open at the same time. Albertans’ insights and perspectives will help lead the way in improving the system to ensure it meets Alberta’s needs today and for generations to come.
Alberta’s government is making significant strides in its efforts to refocus the health care system. Assisted Living Alberta will be the fourth and final new provincial health agency to be established and operational. Recovery Alberta officially began operations on Sept. 1, 2024, with Primary Care Alberta ready to follow suit and become operational on Feb. 1, 2025. On the same date, Acute Care Alberta is set to become a legal entity. By creating four provincial health agencies to oversee the priority sectors of primary care, acute care, continuing care, and mental health and addiction, the province is putting patients first in every health care decision and giving front-line experts the support they need to properly care for Albertans.
“The Alberta Continuing Care Association welcomes this transformational move by the Alberta government. By bringing social services, medical and non-medical supports, and continuing care together under one health agency, patients will be able to access wraparound supports for the care and services they need.”
Feisal Keshavjee, chair, Alberta Continuing Care Association
“Integrated health and social care enhances outcomes, aligns with the preferences of older adults, caregivers and practitioners, and underpins leading continuing care models. Healthy Aging Alberta and the United Way of Calgary congratulate the ministry on this exciting transition and look forward to supporting an integrated wraparound model of continuing care in Alberta.”
Karen McDonald, provincial director, Healthy Aging Alberta
Transition committee members
Dr. Sayeh Zielke, committee chair – cardiologist and medical director of Chinook Cardiology
MLA Brandon Lunty, deputy chair – MLA for Leduc-Beaumont
Dr. David Stewart, member – physician, Family Medical Centre
David Weyant, member – president and CEO, Alberta Lawyers Indemnity Association
Robin James, member – chief administrative officer, Lethbridge Housing Authority
Feisal Keshavjee, member – board chair, Alberta Continuing Care Association
Karen McDonald, member – director, Healthy Aging Alberta (and executive director, Sage)
Andrea Hesse, member – executive director, Alberta Council for Disability Services
Joyce Wicks, member – former nurse and seniors advocate
Ruben Breaker, member – councillor, Siksika First Nation
Arlene Adamson, member – former CEO, Silvera for Seniors
Salimah Walji-Shivji, member – CEO, AgeCare
Irene Martin-Lindsay – member, executive director, Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association
(30)
January 31, 2025
Sarah Hoffman, Alberta NDP Shadow Minister for Health, issued the following statement in response to the UCP government’s continuing care announcement:
“People across our province want more safe places for their loved ones to live with dignity. I’m sure many of us were hoping Thursday’s announcement would be about building more continuing care.
“Our parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbours deserve to be in well-staffed residences that offer a great quality of life.
“Albertans deserve a government that is focused on ensuring that everyone receives the best possible care, but all the UCP offered on Thursday was a new logo.
“Sadly, the UCP wants to dismantle our public health-care system for American-style health care and Albertans are paying the price.
“Carving up a health-care system that used to rank first in the country and has slipped to fifth under this UCP government will only add to the chaos and stress impacting health-care workers and Albertans who need their care.
“Everyone deserves a safe place, with high-quality care, to live with dignity and thrive. We will fight for increased investment in public health care including continuing care in the upcoming budget.”
(30)
Pinoy Edmonton News 