A special-care home is a facility that provides institutional long term care services to meet the needs of individuals usually having heavy care needs, that cannot appropriately be met in the community through home/community based services. Special-care homes may be referred to as nursing homes.

Special-care homes may also provide support to family care providers through respite care and adult day programs.

Special care homes are designated by the Minister under The Regional Health Services Act. Regional Health Authorities may operate a special-care home directly or through an affiliation contract.

Individuals are admitted to special-care homes on the basis of assessed need. The assessment and priorizing of individuals for placement in special-care homes is the responsibility of the regional health authorities. Individuals who wish to request an assessment should contact their local regional health authority.

Government funds special care homes through regional health authorities. Residents pay an income-tested charge.

The income-tested resident charge is based on annual reported income from Line 150 of the Income Tax Return, which includes earned interest from bank accounts and investments. Personal assets (land, houses, bank accounts, etc.) are not taken into account in determining the resident charge.

As of January 1, 2008, the resident charge will range from $956 to $1,815 per month, depending on the resident's income. Saskatchewan Health continues to subsidize approximately 77% of the overall province-wide cost of long-term care.

A resident pays the standard resident charge ($956 at January 1) plus 50% of the portion of their income between $1,161 and $2,879.

For married residents (including common-law couples), the couple’s income is combined, divided equally, and then the above formula is applied.

Married residents who live in separate dwellings for reasons beyond their control may choose to complete an Optional Designation Form for the purpose of determining the resident charge. With this designation only the resident’s income is considered when calculating the charge. It should be noted this option is only of benefit in situations where the resident’s income is lower than that of their spouse. Choosing this designation does not change a couple’s marital status.

The resident and spouse, if applicable, is required to provide the most recent year's Notice of Assessment(s) from Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) or Pages 1 & 2 of the Income Tax Return(s) upon admission and annually  thereafter.  If income information is not provided, the resident charge will be assessed at the maximum rate.

A resident admitted for temporary care must pay the income-tested resident charge if their stay is more than 60 consecutive days.

In addition to the resident charge there may be additional costs such as prescription drugs, incontinence supplies, personal items etc. pursuant to the admission agreement with the long-term care facility and/or the Regional Health Authority.

The resident charges are adjusted quarterly in keeping with any changes to Old Age Security and Guaranteed Income Supplement benefits which affects the figures in the above formula.

Individual resident charges are adjusted annually (effective January 1) to take into account any changes in income of the resident and spouse (if applicable) from the previous year.  Resident charges effective January 1, 2008 will be calculated using the 2006 tax return(s). 

A request for recalculation of the resident charge may be made at any time by submitting a written request to Saskatchewan Health along with supporting documentation.  If the resident charge is recalculated, it will be retroactive to the first day of the month in which the request was submitted.

Questions related to the calculation of resident charges should be directed to the Income Assessment Unit (Saskatchewan Health) at (306) 787-5023 or (306) 787-3543 in Regina or by calling toll free 1-800-667-4884.

Questions related to the invoice/statement should be directed to whomever sent it, either the facility or the Regional Health Authority.