Term: Personal Care Home (PCH)

Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2013-10-30

Definition:

This term has different definitions in MCHP research. The majority use definition 1 below.

  1. Personal Care Homes (PCHs) are residential facilities for predominantly older persons with chronic illness or disability, also known as nursing homes( Martens et al., 2003 ). PCHs may be proprietary (for profit) or non-proprietary. Non-proprietary PCHs may further be classified as secular or ethno-cultural (associated with a particular religious faith or language other than English) as well as either freestanding or juxtaposed with an acute care hospital/facility ( Martens et al., 2003 ). Some PCH facilities may be funded by the provincial (provincial PCHs) or federal (federal PCHs) government. There is no designated PCH facility in Churchill; however, seven of the hospital beds in the Churchill Health Centre serve as PCH beds. (Fransoo et al., 2013). In order to be admitted to a PCH an application form must be completed and reviewed by a panel which determines whether the person requires admission. Many persons who apply to enter a PCH have been home care clients for a considerable period of time, but their care needs have become too great to manage in the community ( Finlayson et al., 2007 ). They generally continue to receive home care until admitted to a PCH.

  2. PCHs are considered one of 13 alternate levels of care (ALC) in which care is provided by a long term care facility in a 24-hour supervised setting for patients who can no longer be cared for at home ( De Coster et al., 1996 ).

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