What is a Congregate Living Setting?
A Congregate Living Setting (CLS) is used to refer to congregate living settings other than LTCHs and RHs. This includes higher risk congregate living settings that fall under the definition of “institution” in subsection 21(1) of the HPPA. This also includes other congregate living settings in which individuals who may be at higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses.
Congregate living settings refer to a range of facilities where people (most or all of whom are not related) live or stay overnight and use shared spaces (e.g., common sleeping areas, bathrooms, kitchens). Examples of congregate living settings may include long-term residential facilities, group homes, foster homes, and assisted living facilities.
- Healthcare services delivered in these settings should be informed by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care guidance documents.
- Facilities should assess the unique risks of their setting and the populations they serve and use enhanced COVID-19 prevention strategies and resources, described below, to help reduce the impact of respiratory or enteric illnesses.
Congregate Living Settings play a vital role in managing and controlling outbreaks within their facilities. Your facility has a duty and responsibility to implement necessary measures to safeguard the health and well-being of residents and staff. The information on this page is meant to provide you with resources for managing respiratory and gastroenteritis (enteric) cases and outbreaks.