NWT residents actively seeking to move into LTC can apply by contacting their local Community Health Centre or Home Care program. A nurse documents the applicant’s health care needs, on a long form, in a number of domains such as hearing and vision, ability to feed oneself, ability to use the bathroom independently (etc.).

The application includes a comprehensive nursing, medical, and functional assessment of the person’s needs to determine whether they are eligible for LTC and, if so, where do they stand on the wait list in terms of priority. The applicant, or applicant’s guardian, must sign consent to apply.

The application is submitted to the Territorial Admissions Committee for consideration alongside other applications. When an applicant is determined to be eligible for LTC, their name is placed on a Territorial wait list. When a bed becomes available it is offered to the individual on the waitlist with the highest assessed need for care.

If an applicant is offered a bed, but turns it down, the bed is offered to the next priority applicant.  A person who turns down a bed offer remains on the wait list (if they want to) but they cannot be guaranteed to be offered the next available bed - others may apply who have a greater assessed need and be higher in priority.

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