Seniors to Pay Less for Long-term Care

Many residents in long-term care facilities will pay lower maximum daily accommodation rates at nursing homes and residential care facilities, Health Minister Angus MacIsaac announced today, March 2.

Reduced maximum rates were made possible when recreation therapy services were removed from daily accommodation fees. The services will now be funded as health-care costs. This change comes as a result of a policy review only two months after the province's new approach to funding of long-term care came into effect.

"Adjustments are a necessary part of the process when introducing significant change, like we have with long-term care," said Mr. MacIsaac. "Funding the costs of recreation therapy services reinforces our desire to support the independence and well-being of residents in long-term care."

The daily maximum accommodation charge for a nursing home will be reduced to $73.50 from the $77 announced last fall. The daily maximum accommodation charge for a residential care facility will be reduced to $43.50 from $45. The accommodation charge for a community-based option will remain at $43 per day.

The reduced charge is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2005, when the new funding approach for long-term care became effective in Nova Scotia. More than 600 residents will have a credit toward their April 2005 accommodation charge.

The amounts will vary by person, however, a resident who paid $77 per diem for the months of January, February, and March will have a credit worth $315 applied toward their April bill.

"We will continue to review how our policies impact long-term care residents and the sector, and how further improvements can be made," said Mr. MacIsaac.

Recreation therapy expenditures cost about $6.3 million annually for nursing homes and $300,000 per year for residential care facilities.

Paying for recreation therapy is expected to cost the Department of Health an additional $600,000 annually.

As previously announced, maximum accommodation charges will be adjusted annually and become effective each Nov. 1.