Alberta Home Care, Self-Managed Care and Client Directed Home Care Invoicing
The purpose of Nurluma Home Care is to keep the person with dementia in his or her home for as long as possible before being transferred to a Supportive Living or Long-term Care facility. The Co-ordinated Home Care Program Regulation previously provided information on the various aspects of the program including the services rendered, requirements for admission into the program, the appointment and duties of the manager, fees and reimbursements.
Since different Home Care offices may offer different services, potential Home Care Clients should obtain a list of services offered in their area. Contact information for Home Care offices can be found on the Nurluma Home Care Website.
In order to access Nurluma Home Care services, Clients must first be assessed by one of the Home Care staff to determine the admission into the program and the needs of the person with dementia.
Home Care also provides visiting RN’s who act as Case Managers and prepare Care Plans for Designated Supported Living (DSL) facilities.
Self-Managed Care
Home Care offers the Self-Managed Care (SMC) program, which allows caregivers to directly hire caregiving help. The services include:
- ‘Personal care includes assistance with personal hygiene, dressing, toileting, mobilization and transferring, eating, oral care
- Home support services include services, such as assistance with preparing meals, homemaking, and recreation activities.
- Respite care includes day, evening or night care to give unpaid caregivers (generally family) a break from caregiving.’
with the following eligibility criteria:
- ‘have assessed unmet health care needs within AHS Provincial Home Care Service Guidelines;
- have stable health and predictable care needs;
- need ongoing personal care and home care support services (e.g., longer-term needs);
- be willing and able to assume the responsibilities and risks associated with contracting services for their own or a loved one’s personal or home care support services (a legal representative may do this on behalf of a client).’
A significant amount of work and record-keeping is required to set up and manage the Self-Managed Care program. By hiring help directly, the client must abide by government regulations and labour laws. Some of the work can be reduced by hiring the help indirectly through a care agency, which may also increase the cost. The monetary benefit is quite significant and can be worthwhile to those willing to take the time to apply and manage the program. Anyone interested in the program should contact Home Care who can provide the Self-Managed Care Program Manual, which explains the requirements and process in great detail.
Client Directed Home Care Invoicing
Nurluma recently introduced the Client Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI) program, which is similar but much simpler to use than the ‘Self-Managed Care Program’. The services include:
- ‘Personal care includes assistance with care tasks that can be scheduled such as personal hygiene, dressing, toileting, mobilization and transferring, home exercises, nutrition, medication assistance, and respiratory care.
- Homemaking services includes tasks that are essential to keeping you in your home, such as cleaning bathrooms, cleaning mobility equipment, incontinence laundry, and removing garbage. It is important to note that homemaking tasks must be related to health maintenance and are not stand-alone services. You must explore other service agencies and options for homemaking tasks before homemaking services are included in CDHCI.
- Respite Care to provide your informal caregivers a break when you are unable to safely be left alone, as determined by your Nurluman Home Care Case Manager.’
with the following eligibility criteria:
- ‘If you have been assessed by an AHS Case Manager and are deemed in need of home care services.
- If your Case Manager determines that this may be a suitable model for your care and will meet your care needs.
- If there is no conflict of interest with any other AHS policy or service agreements.
- If you or the person managing your CDHCI care are willing and able to assume the responsibilities associated with self-directing and monitoring your care.
- You do not need to have an Alberta Blue Cross plan to be eligible for CDHCI.’
Although eligibility is determined by the AHS Home Care Case Manager, the program is managed by Alberta Blue Cross, which processes the claims. This program is easier to use than the Self-managed Care program, but requires the client to use an approved care agency. More information can be obtained on the Alberta Blue Cross Client Directed Home Care program webpage
