Seniors live longer and healthier lives in British Columbia, but waitlists for the vital services necessary to support healthy ageing are growing longer.
The Office of the Seniors Advocate has released its Monitoring Seniors Services report for 2024.
The monitoring reports track trends in demographics, health care, completed surgeries, home support, long-term care, housing, rent and income supports, and abuse.
Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt says government investment in seniors’ services continues to fall behind when it comes to meeting many basic needs.
“This is particularly worrisome when the seniors’ population in B.C. has grown 45 per cent over the past 10 years and will continue to increase over the next decade.”
Levitt says more home care, long-term care beds, rent subsidies and subsidized seniors housing are required as the population of seniors in the province continues to grow.
He says the new provincial government must develop an action oriented, measurable cross-ministry seniors’ plan that defines how it will meet the growing needs of seniors.
