Continuing Care – Caregiver Benefit

Provided by: Government of Nova Scotia - Department of Health and Wellness

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Service Description

The Caregiver Benefit recognizes the important role of caregivers in their efforts to assist loved ones and friends.

A caregiver may be a spouse, family member, friend or neighbour that is not being paid for the help they provide. This could include supervision, cooking, housekeeping, home maintenance, errands and personal care.

Program helps caregivers of adults with a low income who have a high level of disability or impairment, as determined by a home care assessment. If the caregiver and the care recipient both qualify for the program, the caregiver will receive $400 per month.

Eligibility

Both the caregiver and the person for whom they provide care must meet the program’s eligibility criteria • A care coordinator determines eligibility through an assessment process

The person receiving care must:
• Be age 19 or older
• Be a Nova Scotia resident
• Be in a care relationship with a caregiver
• Have a net annual income of $26,165 or less if single, or a total net household income of $41,165 or less, if married or common-law
• Have been assessed by a care coordinator as having a very high level of impairment or disability requiring significant care over time.

Applicants who are assessed as having very high care needs have some combination of:
• Mild to significant problems with memory loss, decision-making and communication that affect daily functioning
• High level of physical impairment
• Many challenges in managing their personal needs
• Serious behavioural problems
• A high risk of falls
• A high risk of long term care placement

The caregiver must:
• Be age 19 or older
• Be a Nova Scotia resident
• Be in an ongoing care relationship with the person receiving care, providing 20 or more hours of assistance per week
• Not already be receiving payment to provide assistance to the person for whom they are providing care
• Be willing to sign an agreement that defines the terms and conditions for receiving the Caregiver Benefit

Application Process

The one number to call to connect with Continuing Care services is 1-800-225-7225 (toll free across North America)

A care coordinator will help you assess your needs and the services that would best meet them. If you are already a client of Continuing Care, but feel your needs have changed, contact your care coordinator.

If you are calling from outside North America, about someone who lives in a community serviced by the Nova Scotia Health Authority, please call the appropriate number below:

• Annapolis and Kings Counties: 902-487-0297
• Cape Breton County, Northern and Central Inverness County and Victoria County: 902-487-0298
• Colchester County and Municipality of East Hants: 902-487-0296
• Cumberland County: 902-487-0296
• Guysborough, Antigonish and Richmond Counties and the southern portion of Inverness County: 902-487-0298
• Halifax Regional Municipality and Hants County: 902-487-0607
• Pictou County: 902-487-0296
• Lunenburg and Queens Counties: 902-487-0297
• Digby, Shelburne and Yarmouth Counties: 902-487-0297