Long-Term Care Room and Board Fees in Saskatchewan

What the Resident Charge Actually Covers

The monthly charge at a Saskatchewan Special-Care Home — $1,377 to $3,428 depending on income — is legally classified as a room and board fee. That classification matters because it defines what is included and, more importantly, what is not.

Families often assume the charge covers everything. It does not. Knowing the line between included services and out-of-pocket costs before admission prevents budget surprises during an already stressful transition.

Included in the Monthly Charge

Accommodation: A room (shared or private, depending on facility availability), furnishings, heating, and basic utilities. Most new admissions start in a shared room. Private rooms may be available at an additional charge depending on the facility.

Meals: Three meals per day plus scheduled snacks, prepared by the facility's dietary team. Special diets (diabetic, low-sodium, pureed for swallowing difficulties) are included. You do not pay extra for medically required dietary modifications.

Basic laundry: Regular laundering of clothing and personal linens. Mark all clothing clearly — facilities process laundry in bulk and items without labels go missing.

24-hour nursing care: Registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and continuing care aides provide around-the-clock clinical supervision. This is the core service that distinguishes Special-Care Homes from other senior housing.

Personal care assistance: Help with bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, transferring, and mobility — all included in the daily care routine.

Basic recreation and social programs: Group activities, exercise programs, and social events organized by the facility. These are part of the standard care plan.

Not Included — What You Pay on Top

Prescription medications: Your parent covers the cost of their own prescriptions. The Saskatchewan Seniors' Drug Plan helps significantly — eligible seniors pay a flat co-payment of $25 per prescription rather than the full retail price. But with multiple medications, the monthly total still adds up. A parent on five medications would pay roughly $125 per month in co-pays.

Personal hygiene surcharge: Approximately $21.25 per month. This standardized fee covers toiletries provided by the facility — shampoo, soap, toothpaste, and similar products.

Incontinence supplies: Adult briefs, pads, and similar products are the resident's responsibility. Depending on the level of need, this can cost $50–$150+ per month.

Specialized medical equipment and supplies: Custom wound dressings, specialized medical devices, and adaptive equipment beyond what the SAIL program covers. The SAIL program provides walkers, manual wheelchairs, and seating cushions for facility residents, but more specialized items — hospital beds, transfer lifts, powered wheelchairs — must be funded privately or by the facility.

Hairdressing and personal grooming services: On-site barbering and hairdressing are available at most facilities but billed directly to the resident.

Cable television and internet: Not included. Residents arrange and pay for their own entertainment services.

Telephone: Personal telephone service is billed separately.

Transportation to non-medical appointments: Medical appointment transportation is typically arranged by the facility, but rides to family visits, personal shopping, or social outings are the resident's responsibility.

A Realistic Monthly Budget

For a parent paying the minimum resident charge on a modest pension:

For a parent at the maximum rate, replace the $1,377 with $3,428 — the out-of-pocket extras remain the same, pushing the total to roughly $3,774.

The gap between the resident charge and total monthly cost is $346 in this example. That gap is where the Seniors Income Plan comfort allowance ($50/month) and any remaining personal income after the resident charge must cover everything.

The Saskatchewan Long-Term Care Costs & Subsidies Guide includes a detailed budgeting worksheet that accounts for every line item — resident charge, drug co-pays, supplies, and personal expenses — so you can see the true monthly cost for your parent's specific income level before admission.

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