Wednesday December 11, 2024 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 1 pm | Last update 1:43 pm]
Sociopolitical analysis by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
A year-end report was delivered in Victoria today by BC Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt.
Ensuring access to health care, safe and affordable housing, help at home, and the ability to move into a more supportive living situation in assisted living and long-term care is essential to healthy ageing.
The demographics of the BC population are shifting. The seniors population has grown by 45% over the past 10 years. By 2024, about 25% of BC’s population will be over age 65.
“It’s vital that we are working today to meet demands of a population that is generally older now than at any other time in our history,” says Dan Levitt, BC Seniors Advocate.
“Unfortunately, despite some government investment in seniors’ services, we continue to fall behind in meeting many basic needs.”
Key findings:
Findings called “troubling”, as listed in the Seniors report released today include:
- Wait lists for knee and hip replacements increased 53% and 59% respectively over five years.
- The number of publicly subsidized home support clients increased 11% while the rate of clients per 1,000 seniors (age 75+) decreased 7%.
- There were 6,454 people waiting for a publicly-subsidized long-term care bed in 2023/24, a 250% increase in the number waiting five years ago (2,595).
- The number of applications for seniors subsidized housing reached close to 14,000 last year, 59% more than five years ago, and just 6% of applicants received a unit.
Meanwhile, BC seniors are staying healthier and living longer. The percentage of seniors with complex chronic conditions has remained relatively stable over the past five years, including the percentage of seniors with dementia in BC (which has remained steady at 5% despite a growing population).
Today’s BC Seniors Advocate report also notes a slight decrease in hospitalization with fewer people waiting to be discharged either home with supports or to long-term care.
Emergency department visits for people over age 65 have decreased over the past five years.
Cross-ministry plan is needed:
Levitt continues to call for a measurable cross-ministry seniors plan, something he first announced as a key plank of his work back in September. At this time, the services offered by many different ministries are “uncoordinated, fractured and confusing” for people accessing public supports for the first time.
“I want the plan to demonstrate how government will meet seniors health care, income, transportation and community care needs as the population ages,” says Levitt.
Changes need to keep pace with growing demand but must also ensure that older people feel valued, not invisible, says Levitt.
Today Levitt told media that he will meet with Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long-Term Care about addressing cross-ministry planning including Health, Transportation, and Housing.
The housing factor:
According to the 2021 Canada Census, approximately 80% of BC households maintained by seniors are owned, and 68^ of these households have no mortgage.
BC senior homeowners have a median income of $36,000 and 13% of them spent more than 30% of their income on shelter.
For seniors who are renters, the rent level is highest in larger urban centres (Vancouver 33%, Victoria 42%) compared to smaller centres (e.g. Terrace 21% and Kamloops 20%).
In aggregate, 20% of seniors households rent. Rent levels and vacancy rates vary throughout the province.
Home support needs a boost:
People can live longer at home if home supports are adequate. BC charges for home support, whereas Ontario and Alberta do not, Levitt pointed out today.
People living at home in their older years are likely to remain healthier and more active.
Problems with SAFER:
The SAFER program of rental subsidies for seniors is still out of whack. Despite changes that the BC Government made in mid-2024, the program penalizes for income increases (even if that income is federal supports) and does not recognize rent increases. There is no tie to the rate of inflation.
Not all seniors who are eligible are taking advantage of the program. This is a failure of the provincial government to effectively communicate with seniors.
First year on the job:
BC Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt was announced as the incoming BC Seniors Advocate back in January 2024. He moved into the job in April 2024.
He has issued a few reports this year. Today’s report is his first year-end report, and the 10th for the Office of the Seniors Advocate.
Survey to Dec 13:
Seniors matter. The BC Seniors Advocates seek public input on issues around ageing in BC.
A survey about ageing is available online to December 13, 2024.
===== RELATED:
- BC Seniors Advocate launches Reframing Ageing survey (November 17, 2024)
- BC Seniors Advocate pushes for cross-ministry approach (September 17, 2024)
- BC Seniors Advocate recommends stronger tenancy rights in independent living retirement residences (July 4, 2024)
- New rental supports for BC seniors (April 9, 2024)
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