PEI adopts new long term care rules

Prince Edward Islanders already living in seniors’ homes can havetheir cases for financial aid reassessed under new rules coveringlong-term nursing care, says provincial Health Minister Chester Gillan.  Starting next week, new rules that Gillan announced during the fallsession of the legislature should make long-term care cheaper for mostIsland seniors. However, details have been sketchy about how they willaffect the 400 or 500 people already receiving such care. Gillan has now clarified that those seniors or their families canask to have their cases reviewed, with any adjustments to their billsbeing made retroactive to Jan. 1, 2007.  The changes affect the way the provincial government calculates howmuch seniors will have to pay out of their own pockets forthe accommodation portion of the bill.  As of the new year, that share will be based on a person’s income — not total financial resources or general assets.  The change means that seniors with houses or other fixed assets butvery low incomes don’t have to sell their homes in order to pay forstays in long-term care facilities.

Full story:  CBC News, http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/12/28/pei-long-term-care.html