Services in Assisted Living

From Clicklaw Wikibooks
Revision as of 18:53, 28 February 2024 by Nate Russell (talk | contribs) (New page for Navigating Home Care and Senior Housing: An Advocacy Guide)
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

2.2 Services in Assisted Living[edit]

2.2.1 Accommodation[edit]

Assisted living accommodations are a private, lockable self-contained suite that the resident furnishes themselves. Residents have access to common dining and recreational areas.<ref>British Columbia, Ministry of Health, “Home and Community Care Policy Manual” (6 February 2023) at ch 5.A, online: <www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/accountability/policy-and-standards/home-and-community-care-policy-manual>. </ref>

2.2.2 Hospitality Services[edit]

Hospitality services include:<ref>British Columbia, ”About Assisted Living”, online: <www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/assisted-living-in-bc/about-assisted-living>; HCC Policy Manual at 5.A. </ref>

  • Meals: two nutritious meals per day, lunch and dinner consistent with a menu plan developed in accordance with Canada’s Food Guide.<ref>Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, ss 55-56, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.</ref>
  • Laundry service for linens and towels, and personal laundry service or access to equipment for resident use.<ref>Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 58, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.</ref>
  • Weekly light housekeeping, which includes vacuuming, cleaning hard surfaces such as counters, floors, and bathtubs, but not necessarily washing dishes or deeper cleaning.<ref>Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 57, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.</ref>
  • Social and recreational activities, such as games, music, crafts, and regular events. Always check the programming with the facility.<ref>Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 59, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.</ref>
  • 24-hour emergency response system (but not 24/7 care).<ref>Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 60, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.</ref>

Some facilities also provide a common dining room, social spaces, or air conditioning.

2.2.3 Assisted Living Services [edit]

Assisted Living must include at least one assisted living service. The six types of assisted living services are described in this section.<ref>British Columbia, ”Assited Living Services”, online: <www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/assisted-living-in-bc/operating-an-assisted-living-residence/operator-responsibilities/assisted-living-services>; Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, ss 61-72, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>. </ref>

  1. Activities of daily living<ref>

    Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 62, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.

    </ref>

Assisted living may assist residents with activities of daily living, including:

  • eating;
  • mobility;
  • dressing;
  • grooming; and
  • bathing.

(b) Medication Management<ref>Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 63-67, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.

</ref>

Assisted living may assist residents with managing their medication, including:

  • receiving a resident’s medication from a pharmacy;
  • storing medications safely;
  • distributing medication to residents from the place where it is kept; and
  • administering medication to residents.

(c) Therapeutic diets<ref>Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 70, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>. </ref>

Assisted living may support residents in delivering therapeutic diets when a modified diet is needed to treat a medical condition, including:

  • consulting with health care professionals;
  • developing an individual dietary plan;
  • training staff on modifying meals; and
  • helping residents follow therapeutic diets.

(d) Safekeeping money and personal property<ref>Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, ss 68-69, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>. </ref>

Assisted living may support residents in keeping their property safe, including:

  • holding money and personal property safe and secure, up to $300;
  • keeping an accounting of records, receipts of money transactions;
  • keeping a current inventory for all personal property held for a resident; and
  • making records available to the resident and their representative(s).

(e) Behaviour management<ref>Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 71, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>. </ref>

Assisted living may support residents in managing behaviors that negatively impact the resident, including:

  • working with health care professionals to assess the residents;
  • developing a behavior management plan; and
  • supporting residents in following the plan.

(f) Psychosocial supports <ref>Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 72, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.

</ref>

Assisted Living may offer programs to help residents improve communication skills, interpersonal skills, planning, and engaging with their community. An operator would have to:

  • develop a policy on psychosocial programs:
  • create the programs;
  • post a calendar of the programs being offered; and
  • hire staff to lead the program.

References[edit]

  1. British Columbia, Ministry of Health, “Home and Community Care Policy Manual” (6 February 2023) at ch 5.A, online: <www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/accessing-health-care/home-community-care/accountability/policy-and-standards/home-and-community-care-policy-manual>.
  2. British Columbia, ”About Assisted Living”, online: <www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/assisted-living-in-bc/about-assisted-living>; HCC Policy Manual at 5.A.
  3. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, ss 55-56, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  4. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 58, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  5. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 57, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  6. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 59, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  7. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 60, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  8. British Columbia, ”Assited Living Services”, online: <www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/assisted-living-in-bc/operating-an-assisted-living-residence/operator-responsibilities/assisted-living-services>; Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, ss 61-72, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  9. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 62, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  10. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 63-67, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  11. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 70, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  12. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, ss 68-69, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  13. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 71, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.
  14. Assisted Living Regulation, BC Reg 189/2019, s 72, online: <canlii.ca/t/9lrn>.


This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Seniors First BC, February 2024.