When Home Is No Longer Enough: Understanding the Need for Long-Term Care
I’ve been with the Father Lacombe Care Foundation for two years now. From my office, I see residents as they move from their rooms to meals, activities, or simply wheel themselves down the hallway to chat with family. These everyday moments have given me a deeper understanding of what aging truly looks like.
I have come to realise that aging is a journey that brings wisdom, resilience, and a lifetime of memories. But for many seniors, it also brings new challenges—physical limitations, chronic health conditions, or cognitive decline—that can make living independently more difficult. When home is no longer a safe or sustainable option, long-term care becomes more than just a necessity—it becomes a lifeline.
Across Canada, more than ∫reside in long-term care homes [1]. In Alberta, the demand for long-term care continues to grow as the population ages. According to the Alberta Health Care and Social Assistance Industry Profile (2024), the province is experiencing increased pressure on its continuing care system, with a rising number of seniors requiring 24-hour nursing and personal care [2].
At Father Lacombe Care Centre, we understand that the decision to move into long-term care is never easy. It often comes after months or even years of family caregiving, hospital visits, or growing concern for a loved one’s safety. It’s a deeply emotional transition, filled with questions, hopes, and sometimes, grief.
But it can also be a beginning.
Long-term care is about more than medical support. It’s about creating a home where seniors are treated with dignity, compassion, and respect. It’s about ensuring that every individual—regardless of age or ability—has access to the care they need and the community they deserve.
At Father Lacombe, we provide that care through a holistic approach that nurtures the body, mind, and spirit. Our team includes nurses, care aides, recreation therapists, chaplains, volunteers and donors—all working together to ensure that residents feel seen, heard, and valued.
As Alberta’s senior population continues to grow, the need for high-quality, person-centered long-term care will only become more urgent. It’s a conversation we must have—with empathy, with honesty, and with a commitment to ensuring that no one is left behind.
Because everyone deserves to age with dignity. And when home is no longer enough, long-term care can be the next best thing: a place of safety, community, and care.
Written by Pamila Fonseka, Philanthropy Leader
References
[1] Development of a federal Safe Long-Term Care Act: Discussion paper – Canada
[2] Alberta health care and social assistance industry profile
