The long-term care home is so small, it could be mistaken for a large suburban house.

Ten beds, a kitchen and a shared living room — this is emerging as one key option for reforming Alberta’s pandemic-battered elder-care system.

Many families of dementia patients are now behind the concept, and the government’s own expert panel last May recommended 10 per cent of any new builds use this tiny concept. That would be a projected 1,600 new beds in small-scale facilities by 2030.

Advocates say care homes with roughly a dozen clients have become popular in various jurisdictions, including Saskatchewan, the United Kingdom and Australia. They feel more like a home, which is better for dementia patients. The model also makes it easier to create secure, accessible outdoor spaces and let clients participate in normal household routines, such as baking or cooking dinner.

Read more in the CBC.