B.C. Faces Home Care Crisis as Demand for Long-Term Beds Soars

British Columbia is grappling with a significant challenge in its health care system as the demand for long-term care beds outpaces available resources. Experts warn that the provincial government’s failure to adequately fund home care is leading to premature admissions into overwhelmed senior-care facilities. This trend places additional strain on a system already under pressure.

Rising Demand and Insufficient Support

Recent findings by seniors advocate Dan Levitt reveal that approximately 12.5 percent of seniors admitted to long-term care homes could have remained in their own residences if they had received the necessary support. The cost of home care in British Columbia is a significant barrier for many families. Unlike provinces such as Ontario and Alberta, where home care services are provided free of charge, B.C. charges seniors around $10,000 annually for just one hour of care daily—a heavy burden for those living on incomes of $31,000 a year.

This financial strain has resulted in a 10 percent decline in the number of seniors receiving home care over the past five years. Levitt has advocated for the elimination of copayments, particularly for those on the waiting list for long-term care, citing successful models in other provinces. He stated, “We know that in jurisdictions like Alberta or Ontario where they don’t have the copayment, people aren’t moving into long-term care prematurely.”

Cost Implications of Long-Term Care

Levitt’s report highlights the fiscal implications of the current system, noting that it costs the province over $100,000 annually to care for a senior in a publicly subsidized long-term care home, compared to just $15,000 for home care. He underscores the need for the government to keep pace with the growing senior population. “We may be able to bend the curve a little bit on demand,” he said, emphasizing that maintaining home care services is vital to alleviating pressure on long-term care facilities.

Isobel Mackenzie, the previous seniors advocate with two decades of experience in home care, echoed these sentiments. She criticized the government’s funding approach, which has mostly matched inflation rates rather than addressing the actual needs of the growing senior population. Mackenzie stressed that direct financial support for families caring for their loved ones would ultimately save the government money in the long run.

In her analysis from 2023, Mackenzie noted that 61 percent of seniors lacked access to home care in the 90 days leading up to their admission to long-term care facilities. Despite the province investing $693 million in home care and related services during the 2021-22 fiscal year, the need for more accessible home care remains critical.

Government Response and Future Projections

The government has acknowledged the challenges, with the Ministry of Health defending its spending on both home care and long-term care. In 2023, the budget for long-term care surpassed $2 billion, and an additional $354 million was allocated over three years to enhance home care services. This includes $227 million aimed at improving the quality and responsiveness of home care and $127 million for non-medical support services.

Former health minister Adrian Dix stated that as more seniors choose to live at home longer, the overall demand for long-term care services might decrease. Nevertheless, critics like Brennan Day, Conservative seniors’ health critic, have expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of these measures. He indicated that the percentage of seniors without access to home care remains largely unchanged since 2023.

Jeff Moss, executive director of the Jewish Seniors Alliance of B.C., highlighted the long-standing nature of the issue, cautioning that decades of inaction have left many seniors without adequate care. With a significant portion of Canadian seniors living on less than $65,000 a year, the affordability of care is a pressing concern. “We can’t keep punting this down the road,” Moss stated. “We need to address the crisis caused by the growing seniors population over the next 15 years.”

The ongoing situation presents a critical challenge for British Columbia’s health care system, requiring immediate and effective solutions to ensure that seniors receive the care they need while remaining in their homes for as long as possible.