Use My Nursing Home / Long-Term Care Financial Assistance in P.E.I.
January 2023
Introduction and Background
Many people have questions about the cost of nursing homes (also called long-term care homes) in PEI. Are you concerned about “losing everything” if you need to go to a long-term care facility, which I will call a “nursing home” throughout this article. Please understand that rules for long-term care/nursing homes differ from those for community care/assisted living facilities and seniors’ apartments. These latter facilities are for individuals who can look after themselves but perhaps would like or need some assistance with things such as meals and medication. I discuss financial assistance for community care very briefly at the end of this article, which rules are very different from long-term care. Nursing homes are for people who need around the clock nursing care, and is the topic of this article.
Costs to residents of nursing homes were reduced substantially by changes to the Long-Term Care Subsidization Act and related regulations that were changed in 2007 and 2020. Your home and your assets are no longer required to be sold before you are entitled to a long-term care subsidy, as was the rule prior to 2007. Changes in 2020 were made related to how subsidies are calculated, with a significant change related to married or common law couples, as discussed below.
Admission to a long-term care facility involves two steps. The first is a needs assessment from a medical perspective. The second, and the topic of this article, is a financial assessment to determine if financial subsidies are available to you. If you are eligible for a subsidy, the government will pay for all or part of your nursing home costs based on the amount of your income reported on your tax return.
Please note that the financial amounts and any other facts discussed in this article can change at any time and I cannot verify that they will be correct at the time you read this. And, I confess, this is a complex article.
If admitted to a nursing home, what will I need to pay for?
The only expenses that must be paid by a resident will be the costs of accommodation, including room and board. The government will pay the costs of nursing and medical care at the home.
The 2019 fact sheet, Facts about Nursing Home Costs – 2019, states that resident’s long-term accommodation costs that are considered eligible for a subsidy will not include costs for private room accommodation. Also excluded are telephone service in a residence room; Internet and/or television services; hairdressing; dry-cleaning; transportation services; and accompaniment to an off-site appointment or event.
This same fact sheet lists certain healthcare related services that are excluded from coverage, including ambulance services; prescription drugs; audio/dental/vision services and products; continuous oxygen therapy; physiotherapy; private duty nursing or other healthcare providers; and podiatry services. Note that foot care provided by registered nurse or licensed practical nurse is covered where medically necessary.
More information about what is covered and what is not covered is included in the above fact sheet.
How much does a nursing home cost?
The cost of government nursing home accommodations was set as of April 1, 2019 at $92.19 per day ($33,649.35 annually), and has likely been increased by the time you read this. This is the cost of living in a government owned nursing home (long-term care facility); private facilities set their own rates and can be much higher. For example, I am aware of a 2021 daily rate of approximately $140 for a single room in a privately operated nursing home, which was about $51,000 per year. [Note: On July 31, 2023, the government announced that the daily room rate in public long-term care homes is changing to $105.78, effective August 1, 2023 for new residents and October 1, 2023, for current residents. The monthly “comfort allowance” provided to residents is $130.00. To be eligible for a subsidy, income for the applicant would need to be below approximately $40,200, as explained below, although my discussion is still based on the 2019 rates.]
Will I be eligible for financial assistance?
You may be eligible for a subsidy if your income (or the average income for you and your spouse) falls below a specific threshold. For residents eligible for a subsidized rate, if a person had absolutely no income, the full cost of a government nursing home would be covered, meaning that the maximum subsidy is also $92.19 per day. (Remember, I am using numbers that may be out of date by the time you are reading this.) Further details of how the subsidy is calculated is provided below.
This subsidy is applicable for both public manors and private long-term care residences. For a private nursing home, you would pay costs determined by that home, with a maximum daily subsidy (if you are eligible) up to that $92.19 per day. (Again, remember, the rates are periodically updated.) Accommodations at a privately owned nursing home may cost more than the maximum subsidy. However, if you qualify for a subsidy, and are willing to move to a standard semi-private room in the private nursing home, your private rate will be reduced to the same as the government subsidized rate. If you wish to keep a private room, then you will be responsible for the costs above the subsidy. Remember that, because your income will be fully used to pay your rent before you qualify for a subsidy, the excess rent for a private room will need to come from use of your savings, sale of your assets or from other means, such as contributions from your family.
If your net income, as defined below, is above the $92.19 per day ($33,649 per year), you will not qualify for a subsidy. (Remember, these rates will change.)
Must I sell my assets to pay for my nursing home accommodations?
Effective for costs incurred starting January 1, 2007, your assets will no longer be considered when you apply for government assistance. It is only net income as reported for tax purposes that will be used to pay for your qualifying nursing home expenses. Therefore, any bank accounts, investments, real estate and other property owned by a family need not be sold to help pay for such care. However, any income generated from such property is counted. Common forms of income include Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), pensions, rent, interest, dividends, capital gains (e.g., on sale of property) and Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP/RRIF) withdrawals – everything included in line 23600, net income, on your tax return. If you sell some investments or real estate and have a capital gain on that sale, remember that your subsidy will be reduced because of that gain for one year. (Incidentally, such one-time gains may also reduce your GIS and OAS, depending on your financial circumstances, so obtaining some tax and financial planning advice before making a sale may be worthwhile).
While assets will not need to be sold to pay nursing home costs, if there is still a spouse living in the family home, that spouse may need to sell assets to pay for their ongoing expenses. That will depend on their own income and costs (see more below).
Is my family home safe or will I need to sell it?
As noted above, only your “income”, not assets such as your home, must be used to pay for your care. The government will not require the sale of your home to meet nursing home costs. However, as explained above, if your spouse is placed in a nursing home and you are living in the family home but cannot afford to pay all your expenses, you will need to look at various ways to deal with these costs. Selling the home or other assets may be options; however, this will be your choice based on personal financial planning considerations. It is not a government decision. See more details below about one spouse remaining in the home.
How is eligibility for government subsidies determined?
Overview
The application for financial assistance is separate from the application for admission to a long-term care facility. If you do not want financial assistance (or know you will not qualify), no financial information needs to be provided to the government.
Eligibility for a subsidy is based on income, as discussed above. The most recent personal tax return will be used to determine your income, based on the amount reported at line 23600. An application will not be processed if the prior year tax return has not been filed and is overdue. On an annual basis, your subsidy will be reviewed based upon receipt of the most recent tax return.
In contrast to years before 2020, net income from the tax return will no longer be increased for non-taxable income and for other adjustments to reach a more accurate evaluation of the resident’s actual cash flow. For example, in the past, income may have been increased because of tax-free payments from long-term care insurance, certain military pensions, income from Tax Free Savings Account and Registered Disability Savings Plans. Conversely, taxable dividends reported on your tax return are higher than the actual payments received, and these may have been adjusted downwards in the past. Most public company dividends are reported at an amount 38% higher than the actual dividend you receive. For example, $1,000 is reported as $1,380, which will reduce your subsidy by $1,380 even though you only received $1,000. Where does the extra money come from to pay your nursing home costs? If this is a concern, this is a topic to review with your investment advisor.
Such adjustments to your tax return income will no longer be made. It is strictly line 23600 that will be used unless there are steps taken to reduce this figure that the government deems to be abusive. You may wish to verify the calculation method before you apply for the first time in case the rules have changed.
Regulations for married or common-law couples
Where the person needing long-term care is married (or common-law), you have a choice on your initial first-time application of how eligible income will be calculated.
a) You may apply jointly as a “couple”, in which case the income of both parties will be combined and then divided equally; or,
b) The application may be filed as an individual, using only the tax return of the person requiring long-term care.
This decision can have major long-term implications, so consider it carefully. Once the application as a single or couple is made, that decision cannot be changed in a later year. Always remember to consider expected incomes in future years also – do not make a decision based only on the year of admission. For example, you may have large RRIF withdrawals that either start or stop in the future, which will have an impact on the subsidy calculation.
Assuming the cost of accommodations and maximum subsidy is $33,649, here are some examples of the impact of this decision:
Example 1: When an individual application is better
Assume that one spouse entering the nursing home has net income of $15,000 on tax return line 23600, whereas the other spouse has an income of $60,000. Using the joint application method, these amounts would be combined and divided by two, giving $37,500. This figure exceeds the threshold for a subsidy, so no subsidy will be received and the full cost of accommodations would need to be paid by the individual or their family. On the other hand, if the individual application was used, income is only $15,000, and a subsidy of about $18,649 would be received – quite a difference.
Example 2: When a joint application is better
Consider a couple with incomes of $15,000 and $30,000. If the lower income person is moving to a nursing home, the individual calculation would yield the higher subsidy, similar to Example 1, with a subsidy of $18,649. But if it is the higher income person moving to long-term care, the individual application method would give a subsidy of $3,349, whereas the joint method would provide $11,149. In this particular circumstance, it would clearly be an advantage to apply as a couple.
Example 3: When it could go one way or the other
Consider the same couple as above in Example 2. However, they have substantial money in their RRSPs, and at age 72, they will have mandatory withdrawals to be made each year. How does this additional income impact the subsidy? Will it be better to take less subsidy now by using an individual application (or vice versa) in order to get more later? More below.
Three significant cautions
Caution #1: You cannot change your mind later on the type of application
You cannot change your mind going forward so be sure to consider not only this year’s income, but your expectations going forward. For example, one or both spouses may not yet be receiving Canada Pension Plan or Old Age Security, or may be entitled to receive income from a work pension or a RRSP in the future. In particular, if no money is being taken from an RRSP, remember that withdrawals must start after age 71. This income could have a significant impact on the calculation under the individual or the joint method and should be considered at time of the first application. Unfortunately, there will be no clear answers in many cases because life expectancy is usually the unknown factor. If a person’s income will increase at some date in the future, but he or she does not live that long, such income will be irrelevant. Still, you need to plan ahead.
Caution #2: Your tax planner or tax preparer needs to be aware of these rules
As I said above, once your choice is made, you are committed to that decision. Your future tax returns will determine your future subsidies. Based on the 2020 regulations update, there will be no retroactive adjustments to the prior year subsidy for changes in income. For example, the 2019 tax return will determine the subsidy for 2020/2021 until the 2020 tax return is processed. Upon review of the 2020 tax return, the new subsidy will be established for the following year (explained further below).
There are certain tax planning options that may be available to you which may now be in conflict with getting your maximum subsidy. When your financial planner or tax return preparer is making recommendations to reduce your taxes, he or she must also be aware of the long-term care subsidy implications. Decreasing your income by $10,000 may save you $3,000 of income taxes but could reduce your spouse’s subsidy by $10,000. For example, your Canada Pension Plan may be shared with your spouse. Your taxpayer or financial planner may recommend that you share your pension to save taxes. The sharing will decrease one person’s income and increase their spouse’s income, resulting in a net savings of tax. If it is the lower income spouse that is moving to a nursing home, this could result in a much bigger reduction in subsidy than it provides in tax savings. Conversely, when it is the higher income spouse moving to a nursing home, such CPP sharing may increase a subsidy (assuming he or she is below the income threshold). See the Government of Canada web site or telephone Service Canada to learn more about CPP sharing, including how to apply or how to cancel.
A larger impact can occur where “pension splitting” is used (which is unrelated to CPP). This is an annual option where up to 50% of certain pension income (typically lifetime pensions from work, and RRIF withdrawals at age 65 or later) can be transferred from one spouse to another on their tax return. This is often automatically done by tax preparers to save taxes, so you need to ensure your tax advisers are aware of this long-term care impact. This pension splitting will have a major impact (either positive or negative) on long-term care subsidies where an individual application was filed.
For example, if one spouse has net income of, say, $75,000, and the other spouse has no income, a transfer of pension income to the second spouse of $35,000 could save approximately $6,000 of income taxes. However, the lower income spouse now has $35,000 of income and would no longer be eligible for a subsidy. This would result in a loss of approximately $33,000 in 2020. Your tax preparer may think he or she was doing you a favour by saving you $6,000 in taxes but has actually cost you $27,000 ($33,000 of subsidy minus $6,000 of tax savings). On the other hand, if the individual moving to long-term care has his or her income decreased by pension splitting, the subsidy might be increased, making it a worthwhile financial planning idea. In conclusion, any subsidy will be affected each year by such discretionary decisions when the tax return is prepared. Again, you need to plan ahead.
You may wish to have the prior year tax return amended to change certain discretionary allocations, such as pension splitting, when first applying for the subsidy.
Caution #3: Remember the impact on the spouse remaining at home
There is another aspect to be considered before automatically using an individual application because that spouse has a lower income. Where a home is maintained by a couple, the spouse remaining at home is entitled to retain a minimum income of $27,352 for 2023. This minimum guarantee will only be available when subsidy applications are made as a couple.
For example, assume Person A has an income of $10,000 and Person B, the spouse, has an income of $15,000. If Person A enters a long-term care facility and applies individually, the income of $10,000 would result in a subsidy of $23,649 per year (based on 2020 rates as discussed above). This is calculated as the full cost of $33,649 minus income of $10,000. Of course, Person B will only have $15,000 available to support themselves at home.
The alternative is to apply based on the combined income. 50% of the combined income would be $12,500. At first glance, you may think the subsidy would be lower, because $33,649 minus $12,500 would be $21,149 instead of $23,649 as determined above. However, Person A staying at home is guaranteed at least $22,133 of retained income (in 2020) for a couple’s application, a second calculation would be done to increase the subsidy to $30,782. [Here are the detailed calculations: (10,000+$15,000)/2=$12,500 average income for the couple; $22,133 minimum stay-at-home guarantee minus average income of $12,500 results in an extra $9,633 allowed to Person B and when added to the initial calculation of $21,149 equals 30,782. Again, early (and thoughtful) planning is required.
Conclusion on Subsidies
The calculation of the subsidy is now a lot easier mathematically, but much more difficult for couples because of the planning required. Having your tax return done using options that are favourable to you for subsidy calculations will be more important than tax savings in many cases for couples. Ensure your tax preparer is aware of these rules. In discussion with a long-term care official, I was reminded that it is important during planning considerations to consider Regulation 2(5) of the Long-Term Care Subsidization Act. The Minister of Health and Wellness has permission by virtue of a joint application to obtain information from third parties for the purpose of “detecting, monitoring and preventing fraud or any unauthorized receipt of financial assistance.” The government expects the spirit of the legislation and related entitlement to subsidies to be upheld and for any financial or tax planning initiatives to be for legitimate reasons other than solely to increase a nursing home subsidy. One such example that would possibly be considered as inappropriate would be the use of pension splitting for tax purposes where a pension amount was transferred from a lower income taxpayer (receiving a subsidy) to a higher income taxpayer. This is normally the opposite of what would be done for tax planning purposes, and if done solely to achieve a higher subsidy, may result in changes.
For more details about the subsidy, contact Health PEI at 1-888-365-5313.
What if my spouse cannot afford to live in the family home after my admission to a nursing home?
With the new rules effective in 2020, if a joint application is filed and one person remains in the family home, that person will be entitled to keep $22,133 of the family income (using the 2020 figures – 2022 is $26,570. This figure is expected to be updated annually and is calculated as 50% of the Low Income Measure as produced by Statistics Canada based on the size of the household family unit – see here.
Using this measure, for example, if line 23600 for both spouses combined is $30,000, the normal 50% calculation would mean that the long-term care resident would pay $15,000. However, instead of using this 50% calculation, $25,153 can be retained by the stay-at-home spouse, and only $4,847 will be taken for the nursing care accommodations.
If you are married and live in a large family home after your spouse has moved to a nursing home, $25,153 may be insufficient for you to maintain the home. In such a case, you may have to sell other personal assets to maintain your own standard of living. When you may have no other financial resources from which to draw, it is likely that you will need to move to less expensive accommodations, and/or look to social assistance for help (discussed further below). With the new 2020 regulations, variations will no longer be made to subsidies to help out the person living in the family home.
After admission to a nursing home, how is ongoing eligibility for financial assistance assessed?
The person’s ability to pay will be reassessed annually (based on the individual or the couple’s tax returns, depending on the first application made). Your subsidy will be reviewed upon receipt of the most recent tax return in the spring of each year. The new subsidy rate will start at the time that the processing is completed, with no retroactive adjustments. However, if there is a specific “request for review” made by an individual, then a retroactive adjustment to the date of the request will be considered. Perhaps your prior year return included social assistance while you were living at home or in community care; social assistance is not applicable for long-term care residents. Hence, it may be appropriate to reduce line 23600 by the amount of social assistance, which would be at the discretion of the Minister of Health and Wellness and advisers.
In prior years, last year’s tax return was used to estimate the current year’s income. Then, when filing this year’s tax return, if income differed from the original estimate, the subsidy was retroactively recalculated. There will no longer be retroactive adjustments to the prior year for changes in income. For example, the 2019 tax return will determine the subsidy for 2020/2021 until the 2020 tax return is reviewed. Upon review of the 2020 tax return, the new subsidy will be established for the following year with no retroactive change to 2020.
As noted earlier, this understanding is based on my discussions with a government official, and policy is always subject to change. Therefore, the system may not function exactly as outlined here and may differ in individual circumstances.
Can I make changes prior to admission to a nursing home to increase my subsidy?
In my opinion, trying to “beat the system”, such as giving money to your family to reduce your income, is a very high risk manoeuvre, especially if you will rely on family to keep the money for your own needs. For example, if you give your investment portfolio to your children to lower your income, you may trigger immediate capital gains taxes (a gift is taxed as a sale for fair market value). The related interest, dividends and capital gains will then belong to your children. What if the child uses this money themselves because of addiction issues, or if they go through bankruptcy, hold it in joint name with a spouse and then divorces, or just spends it on other personal matters? For the sake of increasing your subsidy by the amount of income from the asset, you could lose the whole asset. In addition, when would you do this? Few of us know when we will require nursing home care, and as that time comes closer, we will more likely be in denial that the time is soon. The earlier you transfer your money to family members, the higher the risk that it may be spent. You would be left with insufficient money to live your normal retirement (even if you never need to move to a nursing home).
For example, Mr. and Mrs. Smyth transfer their $400,000 of retirement investments to their son, Tom, who agrees to give them whatever they need from that money whenever they need it. Of course, Tom needs to pay tax on the $20,000 of income earned each year, but he is okay with that. Unfortunately, Tom is at fault in a car accident, and is found liable for $2 million. He only has $1 million of insurance and is forced into bankruptcy. Mr. and Mrs. Smyth have now lost their life savings – not only the annual income of $20,000, but also their principal of $400,000. If they had kept the investments, and Mr. or Mrs. Smyth had entered a nursing home, their principal would have been safe, and perhaps most of the $20,000 (depending on the amount of other income they have from Old Age Security, Canada Pension, etc.). Was this plan worth it?
Be sure to review any aggressive plans with a professional financial planner and/or your legal counsel.
Remember that, under the current rules, your investment principal will be safe; it is the income that must be used. A question arises about what will happen if income-producing assets (e.g., investments) are sold or re-structured after you are in a nursing home, and consequently your income declines. You would likely not be entitled to an increased subsidy if you made such changes to increase the subsidy. However, this answer may be different if the proceeds are used for purposes permitted by government policy. I cannot advise as to what the allowable purposes may be, but repayment of liabilities, major household repairs, health costs and prepayment of funeral expenses might be acceptable.
What does the law say about this reorganizing your personal financial affairs to increase your subsidy? Regulation 2(5) to the Long-Term Care Subsidization Act now states, “An application for financial assistance shall be considered to be consent by the applicant and the applicant’s spouse, if a joint applicant, for third parties to release to the Minister information required by the Minister for the purpose of (a) determining whether an applicant is a person in need; (b) planning, delivering or funding programs, allocating resources and evaluating or monitoring programs; and (c) detecting, monitoring and preventing fraud or any unauthorized receipt of financial assistance.” This differs from former Regulation 10(1), under which the government would look back two years before the date of application to see if the “applicant has transferred or reduced income, or divested himself or herself of any income-producing asset.” If, “in the opinion of the Director, the transfer or reduction of income, or divestment of an income-producing asset, was made for the purpose of making the applicant eligible for financial assistance”, subsidization could be refused.
Other issues
What about residents of nursing homes prior to 2007?
These residents will be eligible for the new rules as well. Debts accumulated and owing at December 31, 2006 will still be owed by the resident and his or her estate under normal circumstances.
What if a person has a life insurance policy requiring annual premium payments and income is not sufficient to pay for these?
The government uses your income tax return to assess your need for subsidy, and your income will be used to pay your nursing home costs. You may need to sell assets to pay such premiums. If you cannot afford to pay your premiums, and you would like to keep the policy, I suggest that you ask your insurance beneficiaries (who are going to receive the proceeds of your insurance) to pay your premiums. Permanent insurance policies, such as whole life, can be a great investment for your beneficiaries – for a few dollars in premiums they may receive a substantial tax-free death benefit when you die. Before cancelling any permanent life policies (usually called whole life or universal life), obtain advice from a professional financial planner.
What happens to the monthly comfort allowance if it is not spent?
Residents are given a monthly allowance for personal use. The comfort allowance accumulates and any balance remaining at death will be paid to the resident’s estate, after any other debts owing to the government are paid.
Are any exceptions made?
The Government of PEI retains a right to make adjustments in circumstances that they deem are necessary.
Who do I contact for further information?
For information on eligibility for entrance to a nursing home, you may contact one of the five Home Care Offices. Contact telephone numbers are as follows: Charlottetown (Hillsborough Hospital) – 902-368-4790; Summerside (Wedgewood Manor) – 902-888-8440; O’Leary Community Hospital – 902-859-8730; Montague (Riverview Manor) 902-838-0786, and Souris Hospital – 902-687-7096. For information on subsidies, contact the Long-term Care Subsidization Office at 1-888-365-5313. The government web site for Health PEI, where long-term nursing care fact sheets and contact information can be obtained is www.healthpei.ca/longtermcare.
What happens when a person moves from community care to nursing home care?
If you live in a private community care facility that also houses long-term care residents, a move to long-term care, if you do not qualify for a subsidy, will depend on the facility’s policies. However, if you do qualify for a subsidy, and you are willing to accept semi-private accommodations, your rate will drop to the same price as for a government manor. (As a result of COVID-19, the use of semi-private accommodations has come under scrutiny, so these rules may change.) The private nursing homes are committed to this cost arrangement based on their nursing home license contract. On this basis, your income plus your subsidy will cover your nursing home accommodation costs as discussed earlier. However, if you want a private room (unless the rules change), your subsidy will still be based on the normal maximum limits, and any additional cost will need to be paid by you from your assets (or from other sources, such as your family).
What if a person does not require nursing home care but cannot afford the costs of living in a senior’s residence or community care facility?
In such a case (e.g., living in a community care facility), the Long-term Care Subsidization Act does not apply, and the rules discussed above are irrelevant. A person living in a senior’s apartment or a community care facility (also called an assisted living facility) is “almost” similar to anyone living in a home or apartment they cannot afford. They may need to look for more affordable housing or seek financial help from family, friends or social assistance (also known as welfare) (See the Social Assistance Act and Regulations and the policies for eligibility and assistance). These rules differ from long-term care subsidies, and your assets may need to be sold before you qualify. Former Social Assistance Policy 4-3 stated, “Real and personal property owned by the applicant is generally to be regarded as a financial resource which the applicant, through outright sale or by using as collateral for short term credit, may draw upon to support his/her needs.” See Policy SA 4.2 issued April 1, 2022 for a discussion of the maximum liquid assets you are allowed to have to qualify for long-term financial assistance under the Social Assistance Act. Note that your principal residence (yours or your spouse or common law partner’s), a vehicle, up to $5,000 for a prepaid funeral and various other exemptions of assets that need not be sold are listed in the above noted Policy. I understand that the principal residence may need to be occupied by a family member or be subject to specific requirements, and no social assistance will be directed to the upkeep of the house after you move to another residence. In addition, I understand that, effective December 2022, individuals are allowed to retain up to $100,000 of assets and still qualify for social assistance to live in a community care facility. This $100,000 will need to be used by you to pay for certain other expenses before social assistance will pay those other costs, such as if you need to buy a wheelchair, etc. Each situation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You should enquire about this new rule because the information was not published at the time I updated this article. Transferring assets to other family members in order to qualify for assistance will create negative issues, similar to those I discussed above for long-term care. Not only will such transfers likely result in a denial of assistance, but possibly other serious financial issues if the person receiving the assets encounters personal or financial issues.
You should note that there are special assistance rates for licensed community care facilities versus other housing. For housing assistance rates available to qualifying individuals at the time of writing this article, see the PEI Social Assistance Policy – Shelter Room and Board, including the special rate that applies for someone living in a licensed community care facility, which differs from other accommodations because of the person’s need for additional care. As at this time, the wording in Regulation 17(1)(d) and 17(1)(e)) states,
“(a) Licensed facilities provide “care services” which, in addition to meals and housekeeping, include some supervisory and personal services.
(b) Persons requiring such care services shall be allowed not more than $63.65 per day which includes room and board in a licensed C.C.F. [Community Care Facility]
(c) Persons requiring room and board only shall be allowed not more than $612 per month.
(d) Personal care allowances (Instruction 6-5) should be determined on the basis of real need. It may be that some individuals have very few personal expense needs, depending on the seriousness of their condition.”
Paragraph (b) above essentially says that a person staying at a community care facility needing more help than just room and board (e.g., personal care services and supervision) can obtain a subsidy as high as $63.65 per say (about $23,000 per year). However, if they are physical and mentally able to look after themselves, and just need room and board, then the maximum subsidy is $612 per month ($7,344 per year). Other policies and rates for social assistance can be found on the PEI Social Assistance Policies web site. Telephone the Department of Social Development of Housing for more information at 1-866-594-3777 or call 211 to be directed to other sources of help. For example, another scenario that may help a low income person is an application through the Department of Social Development and Housing for the Seniors’ Housing Program (telephone 1-877-368-5770), where you may qualify depending on your income, assets, health, age and present housing for a housing unit where you rent is based on 25% of your income.
A few final comments
The costs of nursing home accommodations are fully deductible as medical expenses. For an infirm or disabled person living in a community care facility, the portion of the room and board costs related to wages are considered attendant care, which qualify as medical expenses. See my articles for Taxes and Caring for Parents – What costs are deductible? and Medical Expenses and Taxes – What can you claim?
Preparing to move is a difficult process. See my Moving Checklist article to help you with planning, particularly packing, for a move. But in addition to packing, you need to pick a home that is “right” for you (or your loved one). You can search online for additional help on how to do this, the least of which is to visit a number of homes, take a tour, and visit with some of the existing residents. Remember that the advertisements and the personal tours are designed as promotional sales tools to show you the best. It is up to you to talk to residents and references, and do what you can ensure you will be satisfied. One thing you can do is review annual PEI government inspection reports for the private community care and long-term care residences – take the time to review the detailed report to see where exceptions were found. Where the cover letter indicates a “provisional” license was issued, look more carefully. Government homes do not have similar inspection reports.
I suggest you think about what is important to you or your loved one at this stage of life. If considering your parent’s move, what do they look forward to doing each day? If it is good food, friends and playing bingo, then look at the menu (maybe have a meal), consider the location’s to enable friends (and family) to easily visit, and check out the daily activity listing. Do they need physical assistance – then compare the number of staff and residents in each facility and try to determine how much time care workers will be able to spend with your parent, not only helping them but socializing as well. What can you do if you find a problem after the move? Is there a private and confidential “whistle blowing” process to avoid any concerns by your parent or by you of negative implications from staff?
As we age and our mobility and cognitive abilities decline, it is more of a challenge to find a reason to get out of bed – make sure your new home gives you that reason. There is a lot to think about at this very stressful time of life – search on line for local caregiver support groups to help you.
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If so, please let me know by way of an email through my contact page. If not, I would appreciate any advice on how to improve it. The article takes a lot of time to keep up to date (and always keep in mind that changes to rules could be made without me knowing about them), and I want to ensure it is time well spent. Thanks for visiting my web site.
Blair Corkum, CPA, CA, R.F.P., CFP, CFDS, CLU, CHS holds his Chartered Professional Accountant, Chartered Accountant, Registered Financial Planner, Chartered Financial Divorce Specialist as well as several other financial planning related designations. Blair offers hourly based fee-only personal financial planning, holds no investment or insurance licenses, and receives no commissions or referral fees. This publication should not be construed as legal or investment advice. It is neither a definitive analysis of the law nor a substitute for professional advice which you should obtain before acting on information in this article. Information may change as a result of legislation or regulations issued after this article was written.©Blair Corkum