BCCPA submits BC Budget recommendations to Standing Committee

This year’s provincial budget submission from BC Care Providers Association includes recommendations in five categories, with a special emphasis on a fund to enhance quality of life for frail and elderly seniors receiving care at home or in a residential care home.

In the past two years, BCCPA’s budget submission has formed among the top recommendations by the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services.

BCCPA’s report – titled Charting a New Course for BC’s Continuing Care Sector – focuses on these key areas:

Improving Quality of Life and Quality of Care for Seniors (i.e. Development of a Seniors Quality of Life Fund and Quality Assurance programs for home support and assisted living);
Strengthening BC’s Home Health Sector (i.e. increasing home health visit times and establishing a system for the delivery of preventative visits);
Addressing Health Human Resources (i.e. BC Cares and creating of Continuing Care HHR Fund to address recruitment and retention challenges as well as Behavioural Supports Program for dementia care);
Strengthening Continuing Care Infrastructure (i.e. Continuing Care Infrastructure Fund); and
Meeting future demand challenges of Assisted Living and Long Term Care (i.e. Continuing Care Living Initiative and review of assisted living funding model).

“Within these five priority areas, BCCPA in this budget submission has identified eight recommendations,” says BCCPA CEO Daniel Fontaine. “While the BCCPA lauds the recent funding announcements on seniors care, it is also the time to ensure such funds are invested appropriately. In addition, it is important to look at new ways in which to change the continuing care sector to be more responsive to seniors.”

The recommendations are estimated to cost $130 million per year.