Moving to Long-Term Care in BC: What Happens to the Family Home, Your Finances, and Your Belongings

When a parent, spouse, or sibling moves into long-term care in British Columbia, the most anxious questions families bring to me are rarely about the care itself. They are about the house: What happens to the family home? Can the care home take it? Do we have to sell? Who pays for what? This guide answers those questions plainly, so you can plan the housing side of the move with the same care you bring to the medical side.

Long-term care in BC is a different system from assisted living or retirement residences, with its own application process, its own costs, and its own rules about assets. Understanding how it treats the family home is the single most reassuring thing families can learn, because the answer is far more reasonable than most people expect.

What long-term care (residential care) is in BC

Long-term care, which the province officially calls residential care, is a licensed facility providing 24-hour professional nursing care for people with complex health needs. It is not the same as assisted living, where residents live more independently with some support, and it is not the same as a retirement residence, which is private-pay housing with optional services. Eligibility for subsidized long-term care is determined by a needs assessment, not by a family's wishes or finances.

For families in Greater Victoria, the process runs through Island Health. A Community Case Manager assesses the person's care needs in their own home, and that assessment determines whether home care, assisted living, or long-term care is the right level of support. If you are comparing the options, our guide to senior housing options in Greater Victoria walks through each level, and the assisted living guide covers that path in detail.

How much does long-term care cost in BC?

Here is the fact that surprises most families: publicly subsidized long-term care in BC is income-tested, not asset-tested. The monthly fee is based on the resident's after-tax income, not on their savings, investments, or property. Residents pay up to 80% of their after-tax income toward care, within a provincial minimum and maximum. For 2026, the published range for subsidized long-term care is roughly $1,507.70 to $4,142.60 per month.

For residents with lower incomes, the formula is gentler still. If after-tax income is below about $19,500 a year, the monthly rate is calculated as (after-tax income minus $3,900) divided by 12, which leaves the resident at least $325 each month for personal use. In every case, the fee is set by the province, not by the facility, and it includes meals, nursing care, and the basic room.

Private-pay long-term care, for people who choose a private facility or a private room arrangement, is a different matter entirely and typically runs from about $6,000 to $12,000 or more per month. Most Greater Victoria families are navigating the subsidized system, so the income-tested numbers above are the ones that matter for planning.

What happens to the family home?

Because the fee is based on income only, the family home is not counted when the monthly rate is set. BC does not require the home to be sold, and it does not place a lien on the property or seek to recover care costs from the home later. The house simply remains the resident's asset, exactly as it was before the move.

That means the family has three real choices, and the right one depends on the situation:

• Keep the home for now. Many families hold the house while the resident is in care, keeping the option of returning home or giving the family time to decide. The home stays part of the resident's estate, and ongoing costs like property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance still need to be covered.
• Rent it out. Renting can generate income to offset the care costs and keep the asset growing. It also brings landlord responsibilities, tenant considerations, and tax implications, so it is worth discussing with a professional before committing.
• Sell it. Selling frees the equity for care costs, family support, or the estate, and it removes the burden of maintaining an empty house. For many families, selling is the decision that brings the most peace of mind, especially when no one is likely to return to the home.

There is no deadline imposed by the province. The home does not have to be sold within a certain number of months, and there is no clawback on the proceeds. The timeline is the family's to set, which is a far more humane reality than most people assume.

Who decides what happens to the home?

The legal answer depends on the resident's capacity. If the person moving into care has the mental capacity to make financial decisions, they decide, ideally with family input and with the support of their enduring power of attorney if one has been appointed. If capacity has been lost, the authority to make decisions about the home rests with whoever holds the enduring power of attorney, or with a committee appointed by the court if no valid power of attorney exists.

This is why the paperwork matters before a crisis. Our guide to powers of attorney and representation agreements in BC explains what each document covers and why having them in place before a housing transition can spare families enormous stress. If the documents do not exist yet, a notary or lawyer who practises estate law in BC can help create them, even at this stage.

What to do with the belongings

Long-term care rooms are small, and they come furnished with a bed, mattress, bedside stand, and cupboard. There is simply no room for a lifetime of furniture, china, or collections. Families should expect to make decisions about the contents of the home well before the move, because the notice between a bed becoming available and move-in day is often very short.

A practical sequence looks like this:

• Choose what comes to the care home. A few photographs, a favourite chair, familiar linens, clothing that is easy to dress in. Some items, like a television with headphones, may be brought with the care manager's approval. Keep the list short; the room is small.
• Set aside what family members want. Ask each family member to name the pieces that matter to them, and label them clearly before anything is moved.
• Decide what is sold, donated, or cleared. A professional estate sale can handle furniture, china, and household goods efficiently, and charities and thrift stores can take clothing and household items. Our guide to how estate sales work in Greater Victoria explains the process and the costs.
• Handle the documents and valuables. Wills, financial records, jewellery, and important papers should be secured and organized, not packed into storage. Our guide to organizing documents before a housing transition is a useful starting point.

If the person moving into care is the homeowner, the house itself usually needs to be prepared for whatever comes next: maintained if it is being kept, tidied and secured if it is being rented, or cleared and staged if it is being sold. An empty house left unattended for months can develop small problems that become expensive ones.

How the move actually happens

The application for long-term care in BC starts with a Home and Community Care assessment through Island Health. Families can begin by calling Island Health's Community Access Line for the South Island at 250-388-2273; no doctor's referral is required to start the conversation. A case manager arranges the assessment, and eligibility is based on assessed need: the person must require 24-hour professional nursing care that cannot be safely provided at home or through community services.

Once eligible, the resident is placed on a waitlist and can choose up to three preferred care homes from the list the case manager provides. Placement is based on the urgency of current need, not on how long ago the application was made, and families may accept an interim bed in another home while keeping their place on the preferred list. The practical consequence for families is this: be ready to move quickly when a bed opens, because the notice can be very short.

A practical checklist for families

• Start the assessment early. Even if a move feels months away, the assessment and waitlist can take time, and having the paperwork in motion gives you options.
• Confirm who holds the power of attorney. If none exists, make an appointment with a notary or lawyer now.
• Decide on the home early. Keep, rent, or sell. Each path has different costs and different timelines, and the decision shapes everything else.
• Cover the carrying costs. Property taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance continue while the home is empty. Budget for them.
• Sort belongings in stages. Care-home items first, family keepsakes second, and the rest through sale or donation.
• Prepare the house for its next chapter. Whether that means securing it, renting it, or listing it, a cared-for home protects the family's equity.

When to talk to a REALTOR®

If the family home will be sold, the timing usually works best when it is planned rather than reactive. A REALTOR® who works with families navigating care transitions can help you understand what the home is worth in the current Greater Victoria market, what it will cost to prepare it for sale, and how to coordinate the sale with the move into care. Selling an occupied or recently vacated family home has its own logistics, and having someone who has done it many times makes the process gentler.

There is no wrong time to have that conversation. Many families start it months before a decision is final, simply to understand the numbers and the options. Knowing what the home could sell for, and what the sale could mean for care costs and the estate, turns an overwhelming question into a manageable plan.

Frequently asked questions

Does the government take the family home when someone enters long-term care in BC?

No. BC long-term care fees are based on income, not assets, and the province does not require the home to be sold and does not place a lien on it. The home remains the resident's asset and part of their estate, and the family can keep, rent, or sell it as they choose.

How much does long-term care cost in BC in 2026?

Subsidized long-term care costs residents up to 80% of their after-tax income, within a provincial range of roughly $1,507.70 to $4,142.60 per month for 2026. Lower-income residents pay less through a separate formula. Private-pay long-term care is significantly more expensive, typically $6,000 to $12,000 or more per month.

Can the family home be rented out while a parent is in long-term care?

Yes. Because the home is not counted in setting the care fee, families can rent it out to generate income. Renting brings landlord responsibilities and tax considerations, so it is wise to review the plan with a professional before signing a lease.

Who decides whether to sell the home if my parent can no longer make decisions?

The person holding the enduring power of attorney makes financial decisions, including the sale of the home, if the resident has lost capacity. If no valid power of attorney exists, the family may need to apply to the court for a committee appointment. Having the documents in place before a crisis is the best protection.

How much notice do families get before a long-term care bed opens?

Often very little. Once a resident is on the waitlist, a bed can open with days of notice, so families should have the home and belongings plan largely decided in advance. Accepting an interim bed in another home is an option while waiting for a preferred placement.