This study was conducted in long-term care (LTC) and designated supportive living (DSL) to better understand resident and family member experiences and perceptions about public health orders and their implementation by sites during the most restrictive time of the COVID-19 pandemic (March to July 2020).
The COVID-19 Continuing Care Study results are presented at the provincial level in two reports, one report focuses on survey results from family members and the other focuses on what was heard from in-depth interviews and a survey with residents. The HQCA also produced 284 individual site-level reports for participating sites/organizations to help them determine what was working well and what could be improved in their specific care setting. More information on these reports can be obtained by contacting the site administrator.
The study was conducted in partnership with Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services.
THANK YOU
The HQCA would like to thank the residents and family members who took the time to share their experiences. These reports provide a voice for residents and family members and an opportunity for that voice to be heard and shared across the health system.
From January to March 2020, the HQCA interviewed 27 residents from 18 designated supportive living sites across Alberta.
The study sought to understand what factors contributed to residents’ experiences and to explore if their experiences differed based on whether they lived in a high- or low-ranking site according to the Overall Care Rating the site received from the 2019 HQCA Designated Supportive Living Resident Experience Survey.
Although these interviews were completed in early 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings provide a better understanding of residents’ experiences that can help leaders, operators, and staff learn how best to support residents as individuals throughout their entire designated supportive living journey.
This work was a follow-up to a pilot study completed in 2017.
Alberta Continuing Care Act language effective April 1, 2024. Historical references to home care and facility-based continuing care (including home care, designated supportive living, and long term care) may not reflect the updated language or terms found in the new Alberta Continuing Care Act. Refer to the Alberta Health Services Continuing Care Glossary for definitions.
Notification to Albertans: Unauthorized disclosure of health information
This study was conducted in long-term care (LTC) and designated supportive living (DSL) to better understand resident and family member experiences and perceptions about public health orders and their implementation by sites during the most restrictive time of the COVID-19 pandemic (March to July 2020).
The COVID-19 Continuing Care Study results are presented at the provincial level in two reports, one report focuses on survey results from family members and the other focuses on what was heard from in-depth interviews and a survey with residents. The HQCA also produced 284 individual site-level reports for participating sites/organizations to help them determine what was working well and what could be improved in their specific care setting. More information on these reports can be obtained by contacting the site administrator.
The study was conducted in partnership with Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services.
Alberta Continuing Care Act language effective April 1, 2024. Historical references to home care and facility-based continuing care (including home care, designated supportive living, and long term care) may not reflect the updated language or terms found in the new Alberta Continuing Care Act. Refer to the Alberta Health Services Continuing Care Glossary for definitions.
During the fall of 2019, the HQCA conducted in-depth interviews with parents and guardians with a child between the ages of eight and 22 who required addiction and mental health (AMH) services in the last three years. This report highlights the experiences of these parents and guardians while navigating their child or youth’s AMH journey.
Informing improvements
This work was completed in partnership with Alberta Health, and is intended to inform improvements in the flow of care and connections to supports in the community during the AMH journey for children and youth.
If you are looking for mental health services, you may find useful information at the following links:
Alberta Health Services Mental Health & Addiction
Canadian Mental Health – Alberta Division
The HQCA surveys residents and family members at designated supportive living facilities across Alberta about their experiences with care and services. The information we collect and analyze is shared with each designated supportive living facility, Alberta Health Services (AHS) and Alberta Health to help inform future improvements. Information on site-level reports may be obtained from the respective site.
The most recent surveys were conducted in the summer of 2019 in collaboration with Alberta Health and AHS. The findings from these surveys were released in 2020. This is the third time the HQCA has conducted these designated supportive living surveys; previous reports were released in 2017 and 2015.
Alberta Continuing Care Act language effective April 1, 2024. Historical references to home care and facility-based continuing care (including home care, designated supportive living, and long term care) may not reflect the updated language or terms found in the new Alberta Continuing Care Act. Refer to the Alberta Health Services Continuing Care Glossary for definitions.
The Impact on Unpaid Informal Caregivers who Support their Aging Loved Ones report is the first of its kind to be released in Alberta.
Informal care is not paid for or funded by the province’s healthcare system; however, caregivers enable their loved ones to continue living at home. Caregivers are often discussed within the context of the support they provide to their loved one, as opposed to being considered individuals with their own needs.
To capture this population’s voice, the HQCA conducted interviews with 29 caregivers and their loved ones to better understand their challenges, and to identify ways our healthcare system can support clients and their caregivers to live safely at home longer.
Alberta Continuing Care Act language effective April 1, 2024. Historical references to home care and facility-based continuing care (including home care, designated supportive living, and long term care) may not reflect the updated language or terms found in the new Alberta Continuing Care Act. Refer to the Alberta Health Services Continuing Care Glossary for definitions.
