If someone you love needs help to stay safely at home, Alberta's Client Directed Home Care Invoicing (CDHCI) program may pay for the approved hours of that care. But the acronyms, the assessment, and the paperwork can feel like a wall. This guide walks through it plainly — what CDHCI is, who qualifies, what it covers, and exactly how to start.
What CDHCI actually means
CDHCI stands for Client Directed Home Care Invoicing. It's an Alberta home care program that lets clients with approved home care hours choose their own registered provider. That provider invoices Alberta Blue Cross for the approved hours it delivers, and Alberta Blue Cross pays. (Home care has moved from Alberta Health Services, or AHS, to Assisted Living Alberta; your letters may still say AHS — it's the same case manager and program.) The key words are client-directed: you choose who comes into the home, rather than being assigned whoever a roster sends.
The practical upshot for families: if your loved one is approved, a registered provider like #1 Right Care provides the care and invoices Alberta Blue Cross for the approved hours. You aren't invoiced for those hours, and with #1 Right Care you get a copy of every claim statement. You focus on your family; the provider handles the billing paperwork.
The one thing to know up front: eligibility and hours are decided by a home care case manager during a home care assessment — not by the provider. No agency can "approve" your hours. What a good provider can do is explain the process and what to ask before the assessment.
Who qualifies?
A home care case manager looks at care needs, and at whether client-directed care suits the person.
CDHCI is for people who:
- live in their own home and wish to stay there — CDHCI generally isn't for a lodge, supportive living, assisted living or a group home; and
- can direct their own care, or have someone they choose, such as a family member, who can.
If that sounds like your family, it's worth asking for an assessment. You can refer yourself — no doctor's referral is needed.
What CDHCI covers
Coverage is set by the care plan your home care case manager builds with you. It commonly includes:
- Personal care — bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, mobility support.
- Medication assistance, if it's in the plan — for us that means prompts and reminders, not nursing.
- Homemaking, only if it's in the plan — and only alongside personal care or respite, never on its own.
- Respite so family caregivers can rest.
The plan sets approved hours for each type of care, and the client must be home for visits. There's flexibility only within the plan: if your mom skips a shower, the caregiver can help with other approved personal care instead. If needs change, talk to your case manager.
The path from "first call" to "care begins"
Everything starts with the home care assessment, so ask for it early.
- Call us first at 587.443.1888, any time, then request a home care assessment. We'll explain beforehand what to ask for. When you call your home care intake line, tell them who you're calling for, their Alberta health card number, and that you want a home care assessment. Home care intake lines: Edmonton 780-496-1300 · Calgary 403-943-1920 or 1-888-943-1920 · Red Deer and central Alberta 1-855-371-4122 · Lethbridge 403-388-6380 or 1-866-388-6380. If you're not sure which line to use, 811 (Health Link) can also help.
- A home care case manager assesses needs. They look at everyday needs — mobility, bathing, medication, cognition, safety, family supports — and decide whether client-directed care suits your situation. Be honest and specific about everyday needs so the care plan fits.
- You receive an approved care plan. It lists approved hours for each type of care, and whether client-directed care (CDHCI) is approved.
- Choose #1 Right Care as your CDHCI provider. We're a registered CDHCI provider, listed on the Alberta Blue Cross provider map as "# 1 Right Care". You tell your case manager we're your choice — before you call, we'll explain exactly what to ask.
- Care begins — we invoice Alberta Blue Cross directly for your approved hours. No reimbursement paperwork, no invoices to chase.
How to choose a provider
Once you're approved, you can choose any registered CDHCI provider, and you can switch provider at any time. A few questions worth asking any agency you're considering:
- Do you hand-match caregivers by personality, language, and need — or send whoever is available?
- What happens if the match isn't right? (A good answer: we re-match at no extra cost.)
- Will the same coordinator know my parent, the caregiver and our family — and will a backup caregiver work from the same care plan?
- Do you offer overnight and 24/7 coverage if needs grow?
- When I call, do I reach a real person who knows our file?
If CDHCI isn't the right fit: it isn't the only path. Self-managed care is a separate option where the family receives funds, arranges care and accounts for the spending. We also offer private pay, on its own or on top of approved CDHCI hours, with a written quote before any care starts and no extra charge for evenings, weekends or holidays. Call us any time and we'll talk you through the options honestly — even if they point somewhere other than us.
Want help navigating CDHCI?
A short, no-obligation call — our phones are answered 24/7. We'll listen, answer your questions, and help you understand your options, including CDHCI and private pay.
This guide is general information for Alberta families, not personalized advice. Eligibility and approved hours are decided by your home care case manager (now with Assisted Living Alberta) through the assessment process, and program details may change. Always confirm current details with your case manager or your area's home care intake line. #1 Right Care is a registered CDHCI provider serving Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, and Lethbridge.
