Lodge accommodation offers room and board, including meals, housekeeping services, linen/laundry and recreational services. Services beyond these basic offerings may vary depending on the lodge and the community. Management and tenant selection are delegated to management bodies.

Lodge Rates

Accommodation fees in lodges are set by the local management body and may vary throughout the province. Protection for low-income seniors is established by regulation under the Alberta Housing Act. To protect lower-income residents, management bodies must ensure that each senior resident 65 years of age or older is left with at least $265 a month in disposable (after tax) income to spend on personal needs after paying their monthly basic lodge rate.

Standards and Licensing

Seniors lodges are required to be licensed under the Supportive Living Accommodation Licensing Act and are required to comply with the Supportive Living Accommodation Standards which address accommodation services. These services include building cleanliness and maintenance, safety and security, food preparation and laundry. Alberta Seniors and Community Supports is responsible for these standards. Albertans can locate a facility and view details about compliance with provincial accommodation standards and verified complaints.

Eligibility

Senior citizens who are functionally independent, with or without the help of existing community-based services, are eligible for lodge accommodation. Applicants are prioritized on their level of need, which takes into consideration housing need, level of support required and income. Higher need applicants are given priority and are housed first. Applicants may also need to meet local residency requirements.

Health Services

Generally, lodges do not have health professionals on staff and lodge staff are not trained to care for residents with health or complex personal care needs. All lodge residents who are assessed by the health system as having unmet health needs can receive health care services through the Alberta Health Services’ Home Care Program. Some management bodies have made formal arrangements with Alberta Health Services to coordinate or provide health and personal care services to their lodge residents.

The ability to house residents with health concerns is dependent on the services available in the community and the extent that the resident's health impacts the operation of the lodge and the lives of the other residents. Persons wishing to apply for lodge accommodation should discuss this matter with lodge management before moving in. The applicant's family should be part of this discussion.

Funding

Municipalities are members of the management body and support the lodges by paying the facilities’ operating deficit. Municipalities are represented on the boards of the management bodies. The Province provides funding assistance to the management bodies through the Lodge Assistance Program.

Where can I find lodge accommodations?

The Alberta Housing Act provides local housing management bodies with the responsibility for the day-to-day operation of seniors' housing programs. Find the management bodies that administer seniors housing in your area.

What are the rules and regulations that govern provincially funded lodges?

Operational policies regarding continued residency in a lodge are developed by each management body. Lodges are not governed by the Residential Tenancies Act, however, they are governed by the Alberta Housing Act and Regulations.

Seniors lodges are required to be licensed under the Supportive Living Accommodation Licensing Act and to comply with the Supportive Living Accommodation Standards which address accommodation services. Albertans can locate a facility and view details about compliance with provincial accommodation standards and verified complaints.

If you have additional questions please contact us at: supportiveliving@gov.ab.ca.