Seniors' Homes & Community Housing Frequently Asked Questions:   How do you apply for housing? There are 3 application forms: Community Housing Seniors' Self-contained Apartment Seniors' Lodge An application for Accommodation may be picked up at the Administration office. An interview with the Housing Administrator can then be booked. Interviews are done on Thursdays only. The purpose of the interview is to assess the applicant on their housing needs. From this assessment a point score is established and the amount of your score determines where you are placed on the wait list. The scoring system can be found at the bottom of your application if you wish to review how you will be scored. Seniors are assessed on their ability to live independently and a determination is made as to which type of accommodation would best meet their needs. Included in the Lodge Application is a Medical Form. Have your doctor complete the form and have it with you at the time of your interview with the Housing Administrator. Included in the Lodge and Self-contained applications is a Responsible Party Form. Have the person you would like us to contact in an emergency, complete this form and bring it with your completed application form to the interview.   How are the rental rates determined? Community Housing: Tenants are charged 30%* of the total gross family income. Rent includes heat and water/sewer services. Security deposit is equal to the first months rent.   Seniors' Self-contained Apartment: Rents are based on 30%* of your gross monthly income, including pensions (OAS, CPP, private), supplements (Guaranteed Income Supplement, Alberta Seniors Benefit), investment or interest income or other revenue you may have. Rent is reviewed annually or whenever there is a change in a resident’s circumstances and may be adjusted accordingly. Heat and water are included in the rent. Electricity, telephone, cable TV and parking are extra. Electricity - $40.00* per month ($50.00 – John A Smith residents) Parking - $10.00* per month   Lodge: Rent is calculated on your gross monthly income at 30% plus a lodge surcharge of $590* for single occupancy and $1,000* for double occupancy. The minimum rent being $830* per month and the maximum rent being $1200* per month. The Alberta Government provides a Lodge Assistance Grant. Residents are charged a set rental rate as established by the Board with a limitation set by Alberta Government. Currently that limitation requires that we remain at least $265 below the senior's income. The government information on pensions, paid to seniors, (if that is all they receive) is the base. Rent is charged on a monthly basis and initial rent is calculated, as of the day the room is available for occupancy. The gross income does not include assets. It includes pensions from all countries and all sources, rental income, supplements, interest and self-employment. Not included is G.S.T. rebate or any other Government rebate. If you are not receiving all appropriate pensions, you will be required to apply for them. Staff will assist if you are in need of our help. Rent provides a room in the lodge with or without furniture, use of all common areas and amenities, all utilities except telephone and cable. Rates are not affected by furniture requirements. There is also a parking charge of $10.00* per month if applicable. Extra charges such as medications or supplies will be billed separately. * All Rates are subject to change with proper notice given to residents.   What is the Medical Assistance Program? The Medical Assistance Program or MAP is described below: STANDARDS FOR THE MEDICATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM The Medication Assistance Program (MAP) will be a collaborative program involving at minimum, the resident, family, lodge manager/personnel, registered nurse, pharmacist and physician. Assessment of Residents for MAP is on referral from the residents, family, lodge manager or health care professionals, residents will be assessed by a register nurse to determine need for medication assistance using Alberta Assessment Placement Instrument (AAPI). Training of Lodge Personnel who provide medication assistance to residents will be by the health care team of contracted pharmacy, home care nurses and lodge management. We do not provide assistance in giving needles, applying creams/dressings, changing bandages or incontinence pads, cleaning of oxygen tubing or nebulizer machines, or administer inhalers. Staff are not trained nurses, nor are they professionally trained in the use or effects of medications and therefore, are not permitted to make any changes to the prescribed dosage or the time medications are to be given. Pharmacy Services are arranged by the Management Body. They will contract one pharmacy to participate in the program and provide a unit dose system of delivery for residents on MAP. Residents must use only this drugstore to fill prescriptions to be eligible to receive staff assistance. This information is given so that you will be aware of the type of service that is offered in the administration of medications. POINTS TO REMEMBER ABOUT MEDICATION ASSISTANCE Only those residents who require assistance shall be placed on the program. Residents who wish assistance must sign an agreement requesting assistance from the management body. Only those staff members who have completed the training program may assist residents with medication. Staff will only dispense medication that has been supplied and prepared by the contracted pharmacy. We do not at this time charge for this service.   What if we require housing immediately? We do not manage emergency shelter, nor do we keep units vacant for emergency situations.   What determines eligibility for Community Housing? The residency requirement for eligibility for entry is based on those with the greatest need and applications are provided to and accepted from persons having resided/worked in the Province of Alberta for at least the past three consecutive months. Under the Alberta Housing Act, priority is given to persons who have worked or resided in the County of Wetaskiwin, City of Wetaskiwin or the Town of Millet for at least the past three consecutive months. Community Housing operates under the Social Housing Accommodation Regulation within the Alberta Housing Act. A household is eligible for community social housing accommodation if that household is in “core” housing need: Has a total asset value of $7000* or less Is comprised of Canadian citizens, individuals lawfully admitted into Canada for permanent residence, refugees sponsored by the Government of Canada, or individuals who have applied for refugee or immigration status and for whom private sponsorship as broken down, and Meets the residency requirements prescribed by the management body.   Are pets allowed? Seniors' Homes & Community Housing has operated on a no pet policy, however residents may submit a written request to the Board of Directors should they wish to have a pet. Consideration will be given on a case-by-case basis.   What is the age requirement for Seniors' Self-contained and Lodge accommodation? 65 years   What notice is required when vacating the unit? Thirty days notice is requested to vacate by the resident. This may be adjusted according to reason to vacate.   What are the meal costs? Self-contained Accommodation: The noon meal is available at Kiwanis Kourt and Luther Manor. The cost per meal is $6.00*. Meal tickets can be purchased at the Managers' offices or the administration office. A special purchase deal of 18 tickets for $102.00* is also available. Tickets must be pre-purchased. Lodge: Three (3) meals and three (3) snack times are served in the dining room each day and are included under the Lodge surcharge. Residents' guest meal fees are: Breakfast $4.00* Lunch $6.00* Supper $5.00* A special purchase deal of 18 meal tickets for the price of 17 is also available. Tickets must be pre-purchased.   What are Lodge DSL(Designated Supportive Living) Services? There are 16 units designated for residents requiring additional supportive services. The Designated Supportive Living wing provides seniors with the ability to stay for a longer period of time in the lodge setting. The wing is separately staffed with personal support aides who give assistance with meals, bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting and any other non-medical attention that may be necessary. A qualified personal support aide is available 24 hours per day for these 16 units.   What size are the units? Community Housing There are one and two-bedroom apartments and two, three or four-bedroom duplexes. Each unit features a comfortable living room-dining area, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and ample closet space. Each unit is supplied with a refrigerator and stove.   Seniors' Self-contained Apartment Attractive one-bedroom suites feature a comfortable living-dining area, kitchen, bedroom, private bathroom, storage room and ample closet space. The suites include a refrigerator, stove and window coverings. All seniors’ self-contained buildings are wheel chair accessible and are equipped with elevators.   Lodge There are three different room sizes ranging from approximately 160 sq. ft to 350 sq. ft. All rooms have bathrooms but some are not equipped with bathtubs. In this circumstance, bathtubs & showers are available in the tub & shower rooms.   Are there laundry facilities? Community Housing - Apartment Building Only Coin operated laundry facilities are located on the first floor and are available for resident use. Self-contained Apartment Buildings Laundry facilities are located on each floor within each building and are available for resident use at no charge. Kiwanis Kourt has a laundry room located on the second floor only. Lodge Personal laundry service is included under the lodge surcharge. The management body also allows for the use of the laundry equipment in the resident laundry room should you decide to do your own laundry.   What is the Private Landlord Rent Supplement Program? This is a subsidy program, which allows placement with a private landlord. The difference in the charged landlord rent and the amount calculated at 30% of the family gross income, is subsidized directly to the landlord. The Alberta Government is currently seeking a way of making this program more efficient. The Private Landlord Rent Supplement Program's budget is currently in a deficit provincially, therefore, the government has decided that the designations be put on hold. In Wetaskiwin, we currently have an allotment of 67* designations. The Private Landlords in our program are notified of changes as they happen. Once budget requirements are met, the government will then distribute available allocations to those areas of the province in greatest need. We are still waiting for the final decision on this program.   Is smoking allowed? Self-contained Facilities Legion Arms is a smoking facility. Smoking is allowed in the resident's room only. Lodge - Smoking is not permitted in your room. This is for your safety as well as the safety of others. Smoking is not permitted in the dining room but there are chairs in the designated lounge area for smoking. Visitors and staff are not permitted to smoke anywhere in the buildings. The smoking lounge is restricted to resident use only.