A complete Alberta CDHCI guide for families in 2026

If someone you love needs help to stay safely at home, Alberta's CDHCI program may pay for 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 Health Services (AHS) program that lets approved clients choose their own home care provider, while AHS pays that provider directly. 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, an agency like #1 Right Care provides the care and bills AHS for the approved hours. The invoices never reach you. You focus on your family; the provider handles the paperwork with AHS.

Who qualifies?

There's no single income test or age cut-off. AHS looks at unmet care needs. In practice, families who tend to qualify share most of these:

• The person needing care is an Alberta resident with a valid health card.
• They have chronic conditions, illness, or disability that affect everyday activities — bathing, dressing, mobility, medication, meals.
• They wish to remain at home rather than move to a facility.
• A family member already provides some unpaid support, but the load is growing.
• Someone is willing to call AHS to request an assessment.

If most of those are true, CDHCI is very likely worth pursuing. The assessment is free, and asking for one doesn't commit you to anything.

What CDHCI covers

Coverage is set by the care plan the AHS case manager builds with you. It commonly includes:

• Personal care — bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, mobility support.
• Medication reminders and help keeping daily routines on track.
• Companion care and supervision for safety.
• Respite so family caregivers can rest.

The plan specifies approved weekly hours and which types of care are covered. If needs change, you can request a reassessment — care plans aren't set in stone.

The path from "first call" to "care begins"

Most families have care started within 48 hours of choosing a provider. The slow part is the AHS assessment, so book it early.

1. Call 811 (or your AHS zone) and request a home care assessment. Tell them who you're calling for, their Alberta health card number, and that you want a home care assessment. AHS zone home care intake lines: Edmonton 780-496-1300 · Calgary 403-943-1920 · Lethbridge 403-388-6380 · Red Deer, call 811.
2. An AHS case manager visits the home. They assess everyday needs — mobility, bathing, medication, cognition, safety, family supports. Be honest and specific; under-reporting needs leads to fewer approved hours.
3. You receive an approved care plan. It lists approved weekly hours and covered care types.
4. Choose #1 Right Care as your CDHCI provider. We're on the AHS approved vendor list. Once you tell AHS we're your choice, we coordinate directly with them.
5. Care begins — we bill AHS directly. No reimbursement paperwork, no invoices to chase.

How to choose a provider

Once you're approved, you can pick any provider on the AHS vendor list. 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 cost.)
• Can you provide continuity — the same few caregivers, not a rotating roster?
• Do you offer overnight and 24/7 coverage if needs grow?
• When I call, do I reach a real person who knows our file?

This guide is general information for Alberta families, not personalized advice. Eligibility and coverage are determined by Alberta Health Services through its assessment process and may change. Always confirm current details with AHS (call 811) or your case manager. #1 Right Care is an approved CDHCI provider serving Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, and Lethbridge.