Sunshine Coast Faces Long Waits for Long-Term Care Beds

Residents of the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia are grappling with increasing wait times for long-term care beds, a situation that has persisted for nearly a decade. This growing crisis has left caregivers feeling overwhelmed as they struggle to secure placements for their loved ones.

The challenges in accessing long-term care are particularly acute on the Lower Sunshine Coast. Evi Blueth, a primary caregiver for her partner Ivan, shared her frustrations: “I felt like they weren’t hearing me; they didn’t believe me.” Blueth, who cared for Ivan during his battles with cancer and Alzheimer’s, expressed concern that the region’s needs have been overlooked. “I don’t know why the Sunshine Coast, for some reason, is neglected,” she added.

Ivan was placed on the waitlist for a long-term care bed in 2023, but the journey was fraught with stress. Blueth recounted her experience with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH), stating, “They’re rude. They don’t answer you.” She described a lack of accountability and communication, which left her feeling isolated in her caregiving role.

According to data released in July by the Office of the Seniors Advocate, the median wait time for long-term care within VCH has reached **231 days**, representing a **250-percent increase** since 2018. Blueth noted that her request for assistance began two years prior to Ivan’s placement on the waitlist, underscoring the urgency of the situation. “I needed help two years before that, and I was asking for it,” she said.

VCH has acknowledged the difficulties faced by families navigating the long-term care system. “We understand how difficult this situation can be for families and the frustration while waiting for placement of a loved one in a long-term care site,” the health authority stated. They are currently exploring innovative methods to increase the availability of long-term care beds. Factors affecting wait times include medical urgency, the number of people waiting, and the availability of appropriate beds.

An increasing elderly population in the region raises concerns about future care demands. Recent census data indicates that approximately one-third of the populations of Gibsons and Sechelt are over the age of **65**. “There’s going to be a tsunami of older people needing the kind of help that I’ve needed,” warned Blueth.

Ivan was eventually placed at Silverstone Care Centre in Sechelt in **2025**, just three months before his passing. Reflecting on her experience, Blueth recalled a nurse’s astonishment at her ability to manage caregiving alone: “How did you do this by yourself?”

Currently, the Lower Sunshine Coast has **204 long-term care beds** and **four hospice spaces**, bringing the total to **208 beds**. However, there are approximately **40 high-need individuals** waiting for placement. Additional data from the Seniors Advocate revealed that more than **7,200 people** across British Columbia are currently on the waitlist, a staggering **200-percent increase** since **2016**.

B.C. Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt characterized the situation as an urgent crisis, stating, “The Sunshine Coast is perhaps the epicentre of where this is happening. We’re falling short. We need **50 percent** more beds built in the next decade.”

Local leaders are actively seeking solutions to this pressing issue. Sechelt Mayor John Henderson expressed deep concern, stating, “I think it’s bordering on inhumane the way we are not addressing this.” Gibsons Mayor Silas White echoed this sentiment, urging the provincial government to take immediate action to address the long-term care gap.

In response to the ongoing crisis, the provincial Health Ministry noted that over the past five years, approximately **$3.5 billion** has been invested in various healthcare services, including primary care, home health, long-term care, assisted living, and respite services. For many residents like Blueth, the question of why care remains insufficient persists. “Why aren’t we getting better care?” she asked, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change in the region’s healthcare framework.