How one gets into Rainycrest Home for the Aged

Kevin L. Queen
Administrator

The Northern Action Group has requested that we provide information regarding admission to Rainycrest Home for the Aged and what costs might be incurred by residents being admitted.
The process begins with the Community Care Access Centre. All applicants to Rainycrest must apply through this agency. Once the application is initiated the Community Care Access Centre will send out a Registered Nurse to assess the applicant to determine whether or not the applicant is eligible for admission to a long term care facility.
This assessment is then forwarded to the long term care facilities that were chosen by the applicant. The facilities have five days to assess the information provided to determine whether or not, in the opinion of the facility, they have the staff expertise and resources to meet the specific needs of the applicant. If the admission is accepted then a letter is sent to the applicant and copied to the Community Care Access Centre. The applicant is now placed on a waiting list that is administered by the Community Care Access Centre. If the admission is rejected a letter indicating the reasons for not accepting the application is sent to the applicant and copied to the Community Care Access Centre.
When an individual applies for admission to Rainycrest they are asked to indicate what type of room they would like. They can chose between a private room, a semi-private room or a ward room. A private room is a single room with its own washroom. A semi-private room is a double room that shares a washroom and a ward room is two semi-private rooms sharing one washroom. To be guaranteed a private or semi-private room, which is termed preferred accommodation, the applicant must be willing to pay a preferred rate which is a premium added to the basic ward rate. The basic ward rate is set by the Province of Ontario and is usually increased every July.
Effective September 1, 2002 the rates are as follows:
Basic Long Stay: Daily - $47.53 Monthly - $1445.71
Semi-Private Long Stay (Basic rate plus $8.00): Daily - $55.53 Monthly - $1689.04
Private Long Stay (Basic rate plus $18.00): Daily - $65.53 Monthly - $1993.21
Short Stay (Respite Care): Daily - $30.90 Monthly - n/a
There is no preferred accommodation surcharge for short stay residents.
I would like to emphasize that the Province sets the rates and also determines what is included in these rates and what is not included. For example these rates do not include hairdressing costs, cable television costs, costs of drugs not covered under the Ontario Drug Plan and transportation costs. Although we try to provide these services at a reduced or at nominal rates they are still additional fees.
A question that is asked quite often is whether or not the applicant must sign over or declare what assets and income they have when applying to Rainycrest. In 1993 under the NDP government the long term care legislation was changed and prospective residents no longer had to provide this information. Payment for long term care is now based solely on income. Long term care facilities cannot charge more or less for basic accommodation than what the province sets each year. If a resident feels that he or she cannot afford the basic rate then they have the right to apply for a reduced rate. To do so, however, they must provide a copy of their most recent Notice of Assessment from their last tax return to prove that they are eligible for a rate reduction. Even in this situation the applicant does not have to provide details on where the receive their income, only the amount of annual income as declared on their tax return.
If you have any additional questions about the admission process or costs associated with admission to Rainycrest please do not hesitate to contact Rainycrest at 274-9858.