Term: Level of Care (LOC) - Long Term Care (LTC) Admissions

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Glossary Definition

Last Updated: 2017-11-06

Definition:

This term defines the different levels of care (LOC) available when analyzing Long Term Care (LTC) admissions data.

It is important to define the type of care being examined based on what information the researcher wants to gain from analysis of the admission data from the Long Term Care (LTC) Utilization History database. Admission into Personal Care may be defined as:

1. admission into licensed Personal Care Home (PCH) / Nursing Home (NH) only;
   
2. admission to a PCH bed within any facility with such beds; OR
   
3. admission into any type of LTC facility (PCH / NH, PCH bed in hospital, or a Chronic Care (CC) facility).

These three definitions vary by what facility types and levels of care at admission they incorporate. Within the Long Term Care (LTC) Utilization History database, historically, the LevelOfCare variable contains the following values throughout time:

• Level 1-4 - in PCH / NH;
  
• Level 5 - Respite placement;
  
• Level 6 - Chronic Care (CC);
  
• Level 7 - PC bed - waiting in hospital for respite (5);
  
• Level 8 - PC bed - waiting in hospital for PCH placement (1-4); and
  
• Level 9 - CC bed - waiting in hospital for CC placement (6)

NOTE: The range of values collected in the level of care variable has changed over time. Not all of the values are available for every year. Levels 7 to 9 were only used between 1997 and 2002. After this period, levels of care specified by levels 7, 8 and 9 were captured within levels 1 through 6 (with Facility=Hospital).

Related concepts 

• Long Term Care (LTC) Data Overview
• New Admission into Personal Care Homes (PCHs)

Related terms 

• Level of Care (LOC) on Admission to Personal Care Homes (PCH)
• Long Term Care (LTC)

References 

• Doupe M, Brownell M, Kozyrskyj A, Dik N, Burchill C, Dahl M, Chateau D, De Coster C, Hinds A, Bodnarchuk J. Using Administrative Data to Develop Indicators of Quality Care in Personal Care Homes. Winnipeg, MB: Manitoba Centre for Health Policy, 2006. [Report] [Summary] [Additional Materials] (View)