Friday July 18, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC
Socioeconomic insights by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
Government-supported services for the care of others is part of the infrastructure of our communities. That includes child care and caring for seniors at a range of levels.
Urban planning is part of the need for getting it right in cities where child care and seniors care are needed. The types of housing that are built can reflect the placement and structure of facilities for child care and the care of seniors who live independently in the community.
Funding to municipalities by the provincial government should continue to incorporate support for these ideas.
Child care:
Child care as part of social infrastructure is not a new idea.
It was strongly promoted by the late Premier John Horgan, including having to carefully introduce that as an economic linchpin when addressing business audiences.
Child care is now considered to be a ‘mainstream’ offering in Canada, where delivery success varies from province to province.
When children are safely cared for, parents can be economically productive. That benefits the whole family and the community more broadly.
Elder care:
It’s good now to also think of elder care as part of social infrastructure — not just ‘home care’ through the Health ministry but styles of housing and coordinating neighbourhoods so that seniors get help as needed from younger families (supported by govt funding for that) so they can continue to live independently instead of being institutionalized.
These are not out-of-this-world ideas. They are being used in Scandinavian countries already.
When able-bodied and alert-minded seniors are able to live independently it benefits the economy (institutional care such as long-term care is more costly), the health of the seniors themselves, and the well-being of the broader family (e.g. grandchildren getting to see their grandparents and parents of young children having extended family support).
Women’s equity:
Both child care and the care of independent seniors helps support women’s full participation in the workforce and society.
Input welcome:
Views and suggestions about child care and care for seniors in community are welcome for ongoing discourse among our readership. Write to letters@islandsocialtrends.com .
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NEWS SECTIONS: CHILDREN & CHILD CARE | SENIORS | AGE & GENERATIONS | WOMEN IN SOCIETY