Understanding the Process
What Happens After Your Doctor Says You Need Care
Your doctor or hospital discharge planner has referred you to Home and Community Care. Here's what happens next — step by step, in plain language.
The Referral
Your doctor, nurse practitioner, or hospital discharge planner sends a referral to your regional health authority's Home and Community Care office.
In BC, there are 5 health authorities: Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, Interior Health, Island Health, and Northern Health.
You can also self-refer by calling your local Home and Community Care office directly, or by calling 8-1-1 (HealthLink BC).
Timeline: The referral itself is immediate. What comes next depends on urgency.
The Assessment
A case manager (usually a social worker or nurse) will contact you to schedule an in-home or in-hospital assessment.
The assessment covers: physical health, cognitive function, daily living activities (bathing, dressing, eating), safety at home, caregiver situation, and financial circumstances.
What to prepare
Have a list of medications, medical history, and the names of any specialists involved. If possible, have a family member present — they see things the person being assessed might not mention.
Timeline: Urgent cases (hospital discharge): 1–3 days. Non-urgent community referrals: 2–6 weeks. Some health authorities have longer waits than others.
The Care Plan
After the assessment, the case manager creates a care plan recommending the level of care needed.
Possible outcomes: home support (publicly funded personal care at home), adult day programs, assisted living, or long-term care placement.
If long-term care is recommended, you'll be placed on the waitlist. In BC, you can list up to 5 facilities.
Important
You have the right to decline a placement offer, but declining may affect your position on the waitlist. Ask your case manager about the specific rules in your health authority.
While You Wait
If placed on a long-term care waitlist, the average wait in BC ranges from 6 months to over 18 months depending on your health authority and the facilities you've chosen.
During this time, you may receive home support services (publicly funded) to bridge the gap.
You can also arrange private home care, which is not covered by the health authority but can start within days.
Key tip
Stay in regular contact with your case manager. If your loved one's condition changes (a fall, a hospitalization, cognitive decline), notify them immediately — it can change your priority on the waitlist.
The Placement Call
When a bed becomes available at one of your chosen facilities, the health authority will call you. You typically have 24–48 hours to accept or decline.
If you accept, move-in usually happens within 1–2 weeks.
What if I can't wait?
If the waitlist is too long, you have options:
- •Private assisted living or long-term care — often available within weeks. You stay on the public waitlist and can transfer later.
- •Private home care — can start within days. Call 8-1-1 to ask about subsidized rates.
Still have questions?
- •Call HealthLink BC at 8-1-1 (free, 24/7, nurses and care navigators)
- •Call 2-1-1 for local community services
- •Try the CareCompare Care Navigator