Increasing protection for vulnerable Albertans

Alberta’s government is providing $68.5 million to protect vulnerable Albertans and staff in continuing care and residential addiction and mental health treatment facilities, as well as home care clients, from COVID-19.

This one-time funding will support operators of non-contracted licensed supportive living and both contracted and non-contracted home care, hospices, and residential addiction and mental health treatment centres.

It will help operators pay for increased staffing, additional cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment.

Funding to support operators providing essential services varies by sector and will be calculated based on the number of spaces in each facility or on an hourly basis for home care:

• $48 million for non-contracted licensed supportive living
• $9.9 million for residential addiction and mental health treatment facilities
• $9.6 million for home care
• $1 million for residential community hospice

Organizations operating during the period of March 15, 2020 to March 31, 2021 will be eligible.

Alberta’s government is responding to the COVID-19 pandemic by protecting lives and livelihoods with precise measures to bend the curve, sustain small businesses, and protect Alberta’s health-care system.

Quick facts

• Information on how to apply for funding will be posted on alberta.ca in the coming weeks.
• Alberta has provided more than $260 million in funding to protect staff and residents in long-term care, designated supportive living facilities and seniors lodges from COVID-19. 
• This includes more than $87.6 million that has been provided to operators to top-up the wages of health-care aides and  health care aide staffing levels and provide paid practicums for students to fast-track them through certification.

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