Long Term Care in Nunavut

GOVERNMENT-SUBSIDIZED NURSING HOMES

How Nursing Homes are organized and administered

Nursing homes in Nunavut are residential long term care facilities that provide accommodation, supervisory care, personal care, nursing and medical services on a 24-hour basis.

Assessment, waiting lists and admission into a nursing home are managed by the local Department of Health and Social Services. Once the assessment is conducted, the client must be approved by a board of professionals before he/she can enter a nursing home.

Eligibility/Requirements for Admission

To be eligible for admission into nursing homes a client must:

• be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada,
• be a resident of Nunavut,
• have been assessed as needing a nursing home level of care and have been approved by the board.

Income/Asset Test

There is no income or asset test.

Costs

There are no fees for nursing home care. Nursing homes are entirely subsidized by the government.

GOVERNMENT-SUBSIDIZED HOME CARE

How Government-subsidized home care is organized and administered

Home support services are designed to help clients remain independent and in their own home as long as possible. Home support provides personal assistance with daily activities, such as bathing, dressing, grooming and light household tasks that help to maintain a safe and supportive home.

In Nunavut, home care is managed by the Department of Health and Social Services which runs the Home and Community Care program. The local Home and Community Care program will conduct an assessment to determine needs and develop a care plan accordingly. The actual number of hours of home care allotted to a client depends upon assessment and availability but as a rough guideline there is a 5 hour maximum per week for home making services such as laundry and cleaning (available Monday to Friday only) and a 2 hour maximum per day for personal care services such as bathing and dressing (available Monday to Friday only). Nursing care hours vary with each client. A client who needs palliative care receives as much care as he/she needs. If a client needs more care than the maximum hours dictated in the assessment for personal care and home making services, it is recommended that the client enter a nursing home.

Eligibility/Requirements for Admission

Eligibility for services and number of hours of care and support to be provided to a particular client are determined based on in home assessment by a co-ordinator from AHS.

To be eligible for home care a client must:

• be a citizen or permanent resident of Canada,
• be a resident of Nunavut,
• have been assessed as needing home care,
• enrolled in the Nunavut Health Care Plan.

Income/Asset Test

There is no income or asset test.

Costs

There are no fees for home care. Home care is entirely subsidized by the government.

PRIVATE HOME CARE

Research did not indicate any private formal sources of home care.

How Adult Day Programs Work

Adult day programs are designed for dependent adults/seniors, physically located in the community, to provide a safe group setting during the day when family members are not available to care for them. These centres are usually open daily, Monday through Friday (some on Saturday as well). They provide a secure, caring and positive setting for those who are experiencing memory loss, communication disorders, social isolation or physical disabilities. Nutritious lunch meals are provided which usually accommodate any special diet, along with an afternoon snack. Participants need to be mobile, with the possible assistance of a cane, walker or wheelchair. Adult day programs can be public or private, non-profit or for-profit.

Adult day programs in Nunavut are managed and operated by and accessed through the Department of Health and Social Services, Home and Community Care program.

The purpose of an adult day program is:

• to provide dependent adults time to enjoy a setting outside of their house where they can obtain both mental and social encouragement and stimulation and any required health care
• to provide family caregivers with a much-needed break in order to focus on themselves, take time and relax or go to work

Costs

In Nunavut there are no fees for "Elder Day Care" services.