Assisted Living Program
Assisted Living Program provides funds to identified service providers to help provide non-medical, social support services to people living on-reserve with chronic illness or disability.
On this page
About the program
This program provides funding for non-medical, social support services to seniors, adults with chronic illness, and children and adults with a disability (mental and physical) on reserve to help them maintain their independence.
There are 3 major components:
- in-home care
- adult foster care
- institutional care for those needing personal non-medical 24-hour care
Who can apply
First Nations, provinces and Yukon receive funding on an annual basis as part of agreements negotiated between the federal, provincial and Yukon governments.
First Nations, provinces and Yukon then provide assisted living services to eligible recipients.
Individuals who believe they may be eligible to receive these services should contact their band's assisted living coordinator or their band manager to arrange an assessment by a health care provider.
Who can receive assisted living services
Any individual living on reserve, or ordinarily resident on reserve, who has been formally assessed by a health care provider (in the provinces or Yukon) as requiring social support services.
Individuals must not have the means to obtain such services themselves, or access to other sources of support from the federal, provincial or Yukon governments.
Residents of the Northwest Territories or Nunavut are covered by their territorial government program.
Who qualifies as ordinarily resident on reserve
Ordinarily resident on reserve means that individuals live on reserve and do not maintain a primary residence off reserve.
Individuals who are off reserve to obtain care not available on reserve are considered ordinarily resident on reserve and eligible for funding through the Assisted Living Program, if all eligibility criteria are met.
Deadline
Annual deadlines vary, depending on the signing of the annual agreements. If you are a First Nation, contact your regional office for more details.
How to apply
If you are a service-provider:
The department provides funds annually to First Nations through their core funding agreements.
Ontario and Yukon receive funding on an annual basis as part of intergovernmental agreements.
If you are an individual looking for services:
If you are ordinarily resident on reserve and wish to find out if you are eligible to receive assisted living services such as in-home care, adult foster care and institutional care under the Assisted Living Program, contact your band's assisted living coordinator or your band's manager.
Program guidelines
To learn more about the program, visit the Assisted Living National Program Guidelines 2022-2023.