Victoria Woman Faces Two-Year Wait for Long-Term Care Bed

Barbara Donaldson, an 84-year-old resident of Victoria, has been waiting for months to secure a long-term care bed, including six months spent in a hospital bed. Her situation highlights a growing crisis in long-term care, as the Vancouver Island Health Authority has warned that she could face an additional two years on the waiting list.

Donaldson’s daughter, Laura Kyle, has been advocating for her mother since last summer when Donaldson’s health began to decline. “I have raised my fist and shouted from the hilltop within the system to try to raise awareness and get something different for my mom,” Kyle stated, expressing frustration over the lack of progress. “It has just been met with roadblocks.”

The issue is not isolated to Donaldson. A report from Dan Levitt, the British Columbia seniors advocate, reveals that the waiting list for long-term care has surged from 2,381 individuals in 2016 to 7,212 in 2025—a staggering increase of 200 percent. The average waiting time has also escalated, rising from 146 days to 290 days.

Levitt’s findings show a significant impact on hospital resources, as many seniors are occupying hospital beds while awaiting long-term care placements. According to Jennifer Baumbusch, a professor at the University of British Columbia’s school of nursing, the healthcare system has been aware of the impending influx of aging baby boomers for years. “If we had built places 20 years ago, we’d be in good shape,” she said, lamenting missed opportunities for investing in long-term care facilities.

Donaldson suffers from advanced-stage Parkinson’s disease, requiring specialized care that is only accessible in long-term care facilities. Instead, she has transitioned between an assisted living facility, acute care at Victoria General Hospital, and a transitional facility. Kyle explained that her mother’s independent living arrangement could no longer meet her care needs.

In November, Kyle was informed by Donaldson’s case manager that if her mother moved to a private long-term care facility, which would cost $18,000 per month, she could subsequently apply for priority placement in a publicly subsidized home based on financial need. However, a medical emergency in February led to Donaldson being hospitalized for six weeks, prompting Kyle to seek immediate long-term care.

The plan to transition to a private facility soon became complicated when the health authority announced that priority placement applications were no longer accepted based on financial need. “There’s my mom sitting in the hospital, medically stable, not needing to be taking up a bed,” Kyle said.

After discussions with the health authority, Kyle was initially told that a 24/7 care aide could be provided to allow Donaldson to return to her independent living suite, but the situation deteriorated. The proposed care shifted to three shifts of eight hours, then to two shifts, and finally to no home care support at all.

As Donaldson remained in hospital, her mental state began to deteriorate due to the prolonged stay. “She had been stable, excited to be leaving the hospital and go back to her home,” Kyle noted. The situation worsened as Donaldson experienced cognitive issues and hallucinations, common among seniors who spend extended periods in hospital settings.

Eventually, Donaldson was moved to the transitional wing of the Gorge Road Health Centre. Kyle reports that the environment still resembles a hospital rather than a supportive care home, with her mother receiving only one day of programming each week.

Kyle questions how many others are enduring similar struggles. “What’s their state going to be within this broken system?” she asks, reflecting on the challenges her other elderly relatives may face in the future.

Neither the Ministry of Health nor the Vancouver Island Health Authority has provided comments regarding the long wait times for long-term care in Greater Victoria or the lack of home care aides, leaving families like the Donaldsons grappling with an increasingly complex and overwhelmed system.