Personal Care Homes
Personal Care Homes (PCH) are vital parts of the continuum of health services, providing 24/7 supportive and personal care for individuals with complex health needs who can no longer be safely supported at home or in the community.
Across the province, there are 124 licensed PCHs, and a total of 9,597 beds, collectively providing service to residents. Each of these homes plays a key role in ensuring that individuals receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
Our Role in Provincial Clinical Planning and Leadership
The Home & Community Care Team at Shared Health is responsible for leading and coordinating provincial clinical planning and system-wide strategies with health regions to enhance the quality, safety, and consistency of care across all PCHs. By fostering collaboration across sectors and standardizing practices where appropriate, we ensure that care delivery aligns with provincial priorities and the evolving needs of residents and families.
A Critical Transition for Individuals and Families
The move to a PCH is a significant life transition; one that impacts not just the client, but also their loved ones. This transition often comes at a time of increased vulnerability and uncertainty. That’s why it is essential to have a responsive, compassionate, and well-coordinated approach to care planning and service delivery.
Our focus is on being attentive to individual needs while ensuring equitable access and consistent standards across all PCHs while promoting a person-centered, evidence-informed, and resilient approach.
Explore this section to learn more about the programs, initiatives, and collaborative efforts driving innovation and quality in Personal Care Homes across the province.
Initiatives
- Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics in Long Term Care (LTC) – An expert panel, convened by Canada’s Drug Agency in collaboration with Choosing Wisely Canada, announced June 18, 2025 the official establishment of a national target for the appropriate use of antipsychotics in LTC homes. The national target aims to ensure that the proportion of people in LTC homes receiving antipsychotic medications without a diagnosis of psychosis is 15% or less.
- Memo – Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics in LTC
- Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics Briefing – A Provincial Approach
- Resident & Family Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics Resource – English
- Resident & Family Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics Resource – French
- Prescriber Guidance on Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics in LTC
- Myth Busters #1 – Appropriate Use of Antipsychotics in Long Term Care – June 2025
- Modernization & Provincial Standardization: Pathway to LTC – This project aims to improve flow from hospital to community, reduce Alternate Level of Care (ALC) days (ALC Reason Code 11 – In Panel Process), reduce unnecessary diagnostic tests that are not medically required, improve care planning for individuals requiring LTC and improve the experience of individuals and families.
- Clinical Practice Change: Modernization & Provincial Standardization: Pathway to Long-Term Care (LTC) – Elimination of Diagnostic Testing Requirements in LTC Application
- Think TB: For Healthcare Providers
- Clinical Practice Change: Modernization & Provincial Standardization: Pathway to Long-Term Care (LTC) – Medical Assessment for LTC Form
- Medical Assessment for LTC
Standards, Policies & Clinical Guidelines
Standards, Policies & Clinical Guidelines can be found on the Home Care Clinical Standards, Policies & Guidelines page.
Documents & Forms
Infection Prevention & Control in LTC
Information on IP&C measures for long term care can be found on our Infection Prevention & Control web page.