Matej Mikulic
Research expert covering health, pharma & medtech
Long term care in Canada - Statistics & Facts
Long-term care (LTC) consists of services that support a person’s health or personal care needs when they can no longer perform basic activities of daily living on their own, such as bathing or dressing. While these services can be also provided at home and in the community, LTC in Canada generally refers to facilities and residential based care such as in nursing homes and can also include hospital-based continuing care. These facilities commonly provide 24-hour nursing care and are for individuals with high-intensive care needs. Because LTC is not publicly insured through the Canada Health Act, each province and territory overseas the care and finances of the sector, resulting in a complex landscape that can be difficult to navigate for those needing care. Facilities are called different names such as nursing homes, personal care facilities, and residential continuing care facilities to name a few. Nevertheless, with an aging population, the need for long-term care is ever growing, and an estimated 2.4 million Canadians will be requiring long-term care in 2031.
Long-term care facilities and residents
As of 2021, there were a total of 2,076 LTC homes in Canada. While the slight majority of these were privately owned, there were major differences between the provinces and territories. Residents in LTC are mostly seniors over the age of 65 years, however those with a mental or physical disability may also need such services. Roughly five percent of female and 10 percent of male residents in continuing care facilities in Canada were under 65 years in 2022-2023. In the same year, the most common diagnoses among LTC residents were dementia, followed by hypertension.Cost of long-term care
Each province or territory has its own regulations on subsidized LTC. Therefore, not only do costs vary, but also which services are included, who is eligible, whether co-payment is based on income and assets, along with other differences. Usually, an assessment is made by local authorities and a placement is given if required and facilities are available. Costs of LTC also vary due to the type of accommodation. For example, in Alberta, a standard (ward) room in a government subsidized nursing home cost some 1,849 Canadian dollars per month, while a private room needed 400 Canadian dollars more per month in 2022. Even though LTC facilities provide much needed services, most Canadians would like to age in their own homes (and receive in-home care) rather than moving to a LTC facility.
