On March 9th, the provincial government announced $500 million over the next four years in new funding as part of a Ministry of Health’s action plan to improve home and community care for seniors in BC. BCGEU issued a statement that day, indicating that the funding “represents a significant step toward addressing many of the most pressing needs in seniors’ care.”

BC’s Seniors Advocate described the funding announcement as “an extremely well-thought out plan that recognizes the diversity of seniors.” While the new funding commitments represents a positive development for seniors’ care in BC, much of the plan’s success will depend on the implementation. Whether the announced four-year funding target ($500 million) and proposed staffing increases (1,511 FTEs) are sufficient to resolve the service and staffing gaps that currently exist will be determined over the course of the plan.

“While we are pleased that new funding is on the table, we need the government to properly implement the changes,” says Carla Dempsey, Vice President, Community Health Services. “It is our hope that we will see the money for home and community care filtering down to the front-line workers. This was one of the goals outlined in our Seniors Deserve Better campaign.” 

As stated in the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ report released yesterday, “Although this is a much-needed investment in home and community care, it does not reverse the reductions in access to these services after 16 years of privatization and underfunding.” The report, called Privatization & Declining Access to BC Seniors’ Care, made recommendations to advance seniors care in BC, including improving access to publicly funded home and community care services provided by health authorities and non-profit organizations.

The BCGEU will need to continue to engage actively with government, the ministry, the Seniors Advocate and other stakeholders in order to gauge overall progress and the delivery of key outcomes identified in the plan.    

On March 9th, the provincial government announced $500 million over the next four years in new funding as part of a Ministry of Health’s action plan to improve home and community care for seniors in BC. BCGEU issued a statement that day, indicating that the funding “represents a significant step toward addressing many of the most pressing needs in seniors’ care.”

BC’s Seniors Advocate described the funding announcement as “an extremely well-thought out plan that recognizes the diversity of seniors.” While the new funding commitments represents a positive development for seniors’ care in BC, much of the plan’s success will depend on the implementation. Whether the announced four-year funding target ($500 million) and proposed staffing increases (1,511 FTEs) are sufficient to resolve the service and staffing gaps that currently exist will be determined over the course of the plan.

“While we are pleased that new funding is on the table, we need the government to properly implement the changes,” says Carla Dempsey, Vice President, Community Health Services. “It is our hope that we will see the money for home and community care filtering down to the front-line workers. This was one of the goals outlined in our Seniors Deserve Better campaign.” 

As stated in the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ report released yesterday, “Although this is a much-needed investment in home and community care, it does not reverse the reductions in access to these services after 16 years of privatization and underfunding.” The report, called Privatization & Declining Access to BC Seniors’ Care, made recommendations to advance seniors care in BC, including improving access to publicly funded home and community care services provided by health authorities and non-profit organizations.

The BCGEU will need to continue to engage actively with government, the ministry, the Seniors Advocate and other stakeholders in order to gauge overall progress and the delivery of key outcomes identified in the plan.