The BC Seniors Advocate is calling on family caregivers across the province to share their experiences as part of a major review of publicly funded long-term care services.
This initiative aims to shed light on the challenges caregivers face while navigating the complex and often frustrating process of securing care for their loved ones.
To ensure an accurate and comprehensive understanding of the issue, the office is urging caregivers who are currently supporting a family member on a waitlist for publicly funded long-term care — or who have successfully accessed a care bed within the past year — to complete a brief survey.
Their input will help shape recommendations aimed at improving long-term care services in the province.
“People caring for a senior are often working, have children, or are seniors themselves,” said Dan Levitt, BC Seniors Advocate. “Many caregivers tell our office home support doesn’t provide enough care or is too expensive, respite through adult day or community programs is not available or insufficient, and they experience burnout as a result of these shortfalls.”
Caregivers report challenges with wait times, placement processes, communication, and availability, particularly in rural areas, he added.
“We want to make sure their experiences are captured in our review and contribute to the recommendations in the report.”
The demand for long-term care in B.C. has surged, leaving seniors and caregivers to grapple with long waitlists and prolonged wait times, according to the advocate’s office.
Currently, nearly 6,500 seniors are waiting for a publicly funded long-term care bed, with an average wait time of 242 days.
In some cases, seniors wait as long as two to three years for their preferred care facility.
Levitt stressed the urgency of the issue, stating, “We’re asking government to create a detailed plan on how many new long-term care beds are needed, how many need to be replaced, and how it will address this shortfall over the next ten years.”
By 2036, one in four British Columbians will be a senior, and the oldest baby boomer will be 90 years old.
“The clock is ticking for us to take action to ensure seniors, regardless of where they live in the province, have timely access to quality long-term care close to home.”
The ongoing review will analyze multiple factors influencing the province’s long-term care crisis, including: reasons behind long waitlists and extended wait times; current and projected supply of long-term care bed; government policies, legislation, and regulations affecting long-term care; workforce and staffing challenges; and first-hand caregiver experiences.
Findings from the review will be compiled into a final report, set for release in Spring 2025.
The online caregiver survey is open until March 4, and takes approximately five to 15 minutes to complete.
Hard copies of the survey are available upon request, and the survey is being distributed through stakeholder groups and partners to reach as many caregivers as possible.
Those requiring assistance can contact the Office of the Seniors Advocate directly at 1-877-952-3181.
Findings in 2024 services report
The number of seniors waiting for a long-term care bed has increased 150 per cent over the past five years, reaching 6,500 in 2023/24.
The average wait time for those admitted from a hospital was 36 days, compared to 225 days for those assessed as eligible but not urgent.
While the number of publicly funded home support clients increased by 11 per cent, the rate of clients per 1,000 seniors (75+) decreased by 7 per cent over the past five years.
There were 124 adult day programs in B.C. in 2023/24, compared to 110 in 2019/20, yet over 1,200 seniors remain on waitlists for these essential services.
With the province’s senior population set to grow significantly, the findings from this review will be instrumental in shaping future policies and helping seniors and their caregivers receive the support they need.
The BC Seniors Advocate is encouraging all eligible caregivers to take part in the survey and make their voices heard.
To complete the survey, visit: seniorsadvocatebc.ca.
