Assisted living settings in British Columbia : policy goals and gaps

In November 2002, the Community Care and Assisted Living Act (the Act) was assented to by the BC legislature. This thesis examines the extent to which current assisted living settings, services, and clients are consistent with the policy goals of the Act. The data are based on findings from a survey of 31 for-profit and non-profit settings, combined with interviews conducted with a subset of eight administrators. The typical resident was a widow in her mid-to-late 80s, with cognitive and/or physical limitations. Given these attributes, the services that can be offered as proclaimed on May 14, 2004, and the lean staffing level, it is concluded that residents in the AL settings in BC may not be able to receive needed care or "age in place," which undermines the policy goals of the Act.