On September 28, BCCPA hosted two listening tour roundtables in the new SafeCare BC Training Centre – one for assisted living (A.L.) providers and another for home care providers.
Mike Klassen, BCCPA’s VP of Communications and Stakeholder Relations, was joined at Thursday’s event by Rebecca Morris, Manager of Public Affairs, Home Care and Assisted Living and Lara Croll, Health Human Resources Analyst. The sessions were part of a province wide listening tour, which was extended this fall in order to focus on challenges and opportunities in the Home Care and A.L. Similar events have taken place on the South Island and in the Central Okanagan.
“BCCPA are committed to making sure that our advocacy and research is informed through a robust consultation with a diverse group of providers from across the province,” says Morris. “We are pleased with the strong number of participants who have come forward to share their voices and contribute to our efforts to build a deeper understanding on issues such as Bill 16, increasing acuity levels and funding.”
“What has become clear to us is that the seniors in A.L. and in home care today have higher levels of acuity than they were a decade, or even a few years ago,” says Klassen. “This has resulted in significant challenges for care providers, in everything from what physical infrastructure is required in A.L., to what kind of education and training is necessary for home care workers.”
Providers shared with BCCPA that the seniors they are supporting are entering A.L. with greater levels of dementia, greater challenges with continence and less ability to self-mobilize. Likewise, home care providers are noticing that they are supporting clients who would have likely transitioned into A.L. or residential care 5-10 years ago.
“What we are hearing is that while it is a good thing that seniors have been afforded the ability to age-in place for longer, it is important that BCCPA continue to work with our members and our partners to highlight what impacts changing acuity may have going forward,” adds Morris.
The final stops on the listening tour will be virtual – two teleconferences will be held to capture the thoughts of anyone who was unable to attend in person.
Home Care
• Sept 29, 2-4 p.m., Teleconference
Assisted Living
• Oct 5, 10-noon, Teleconference
