FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Victoria, BC (February 19, 2018) – BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is pleased that BC Budget 2019 provides a new $5 million investment to train more of tomorrow’s health care workers. The funding announced today targets training in several job categories that include health care assistants and specialty nurses.
“By making this investment in training, care providers can better address severe staffing shortages in our province,” says BCCPA CEO Daniel Fontaine. “Seniors care providers are feeling the impact of staff shortages particularly in the north, the Interior and on Vancouver Island.
“When there are staff shortages, seniors that receive care at home or in a long-term care home or assisted living setting will not receive the services they need.”
Due to an aging population, B.C.’s Labour Market Outlook forecasts significant demand for workers in seniors care over the coming decade. Current staff shortages and higher acuity levels are having wide-ranging consequences, leading to worker burnout and increasingly complex care needs both at home and in care homes across the province.
In a 2018 survey by SafeCare BC, 95% of workers indicated that their organization was experiencing staffing shortages.
“The $550 million investment announced a year ago by the B.C. government targets a per health authority average of 3.36 hours per resident day for clients in long-term care,” adds Fontaine. “Fulfilling this goal will require a comprehensive health human resources strategy, which also includes opening up additional training spaces.”
Since 2017, BCCPA has held ongoing dialogues involving government, health sector unions, public and private college representatives, as well as care providers in the development of a worker recruitment and retention strategy for the continuing care sector.
“We have more work to do in partnership with government and our key stakeholders to promote seniors care as a career choice,” says Fontaine. “B.C.’s elderly citizens and their family members are depending upon us to make this happen.”
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MEDIA CONTACT
Rebecca Frederick
Manager Public Affairs, Assisted Living and Home Care
rebeccca@bccare.ca
About BC Care Providers Association
Established in 1977, the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is the leading voice for B.C.’s continuing care sector. Our growing membership base includes over 340 long-term care, assisted living, independent living, home care, home support, and commercial members.
