I’ve been reading a lot about long-term care facilities (or nursing homes, both terms used interchangeably in Canada) and quality of life lately. It is particularly poignant for people with dementia for whom housing options are currently pretty limited. There are really three main categories: home care, assisted living and long-term care. While there is a motley assortment of options in-between, these are generally not equipped for people with dementia and currently have limited capacity. In fact, for most, long-term care is often the only option by default if no caregiver is available for home care because one of the requirements of assisted living (in BC atleast) is that you be able to make decisions about your own care. The hope is that this landscape will change soon, but it is the current reality.
