B.C. falls behind in meeting needs of seniors as population grows, seniors advocate says
Seniors' advocate Dan Levitt asks for cross-ministry strategy to help seniors whose numbers are increasing
British Columbia's seniors advocate says the province is falling behind in meeting the basic needs of its older residents, a growing population that is forecast to make up a quarter of the population by 2035.
Dan Levitt said Wednesday that his report on seniors services in B.C. found that despite some investments in services, there are troubling statistics surrounding health care, long-term care, home care, housing, transportation and community services,
While there are some positives in the report, such as seniors living longer and staying healthy longer, the numbers tell a story of a system failing to meet seniors' needs, he said.
"Even though the seniors' population is increasing, we are not even maintaining service levels year over year," said Levitt. "In fact, they are getting worse. We are going backward in several very important areas."
He said the concerns mount as the number of seniors in B.C. grows, rising 45 per cent in the last decade to more than a million people, with forecasts for the coming decade of 25 per cent of B.C's. population comprising people over 65 years old.
"Have we done enough?" Levitt asked.
"Clearly, from the data we've shown and reported on, we're not keeping up with the pace that we need to invest in things like long-term care, assisted living and more affordable housing," he said during a news conference.
Levitt said there are serious concerns about wait-times for people to get into long-term care.
Almost 6,500 seniors were waiting for publicly subsidized long-term care beds in the last year, an increase of 250 per cent over the last five years, he noted.
Seniors admitted to long-term care facilities from hospital wait an average of 36 days, but seniors who are living at home and assessed as eligible for long-term care, wait an average of 225 days, he said.
"You should be able to get into the system in a planned way waiting at home, not having to go to the hospital to move in," Levitt said. "I think that's our No. 1 thing that concerns me."
The Office of the Seniors Advocate plans to release a report next year that tracks long-term care supply and demand in B.C., he said.
Levitt said the report also showed wait-lists for knee and hip replacements for seniors have increased by more than 50 per cent in the last five years.
He said the B.C. government must develop a cross-ministry approach that defines how the province will meet the needs of people who will require access to significant public services as they age.
Increasing number of seniors working
An earlier report from Levitt found that one in four seniors in B.C. earn less than $23,000 a year, an amount that falls below the poverty line.
According to those who work with seniors, they're seeing many seniors having to turn to work even after they've officially retired.
"The calls we get [are] seniors who are forced, even at the age of 70, to go back and find work just to be able to keep their homes," said Alison Silgardo, the CEO of the Senior Services Society of B.C. "They're Uber drivers. They get into maintenance, cleaning jobs.
"Sometimes they can really push their physical body to the limit and not because they want to, but because they have no choice."
Silgardo says that many seniors who are living in market housing have found themselves unable to afford it once they retire.
Matt Smedley, from the non-profit Mission Possible, says his organization has seen a huge demand from seniors who are trying to get skills and jobs after retirement.
"We've had about a 56 per cent increase in seniors signing up for our programs just over this past year," he said.
Levitt said he was "cautiously optimistic" that his calls to improve seniors' care and programs would be answered by the province.
With files from the CBC's Amelia John and Meera Bains