New care model addresses demographic pressure on Canada’s healthcare resources
Burnaby, B.C. (December 10, 2019) – A groundbreaking report released today by BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) aims to expand a conversation among provincial and local government policymakers, care providers and those who design our cities and transportation systems, by combining the principles of healthcare delivery and community planning in the creation of “Continuing Care Hubs”.
The paper, titled When a Hub Becomes Home: Placing Seniors at the Heart of B.C.’s Communities, examines new care models that links seniors to both medical and non-medical services in their communities, and keeps them more active and socially connected.
“Soon, over one million British Columbians will be age 65 or higher,” says BCCPA CEO Daniel Fontaine. “It is therefore critical that communities all over B.C. are as well-suited to the needs of older adults as possible. Continuing Care Hubs can mitigate the health impacts of social isolation and reduced mobility by keeping seniors well-connected to their communities, family members and companions, and to the services they depend upon.”
Beginning with a discussion of the basic tenets of Care Hubs, the paper explores the operational hurdles around funding, human resources, information technology, regulatory reforms and physical infrastructure that are vital to the future of continuing care for seniors in B.C.
“While many of the ideas are academic in nature, we saw with our Communities of Care Forum in Kelowna last year how Care Hubs can spark an exciting conversation among stakeholders from diverse disciplines and backgrounds,” says Fontaine. “The conversation around Care Hubs is about imagining how to make our urban centres and small towns sustainable and healthy places to live for seniors.”
In September 2018, BCCPA hosted a day-long forum in Kelowna featuring 35 leaders representing health authorities, local government, lending institutions, the Ministry of Health, family caregivers, First Nations, care providers, engineering, urban planning, and non-profit housing. A public consultation involving focus groups from several B.C. communities rounded out the year-long research effort behind the Care Hubs report.
“With the release of the Care Hubs paper, we see this as only the beginning of an important dialogue involving multiple stakeholders,” says Fontaine. “We hope that the term ‘Care Hubs’ quickly becomes part of the vernacular used by our mayors and city councillors, as well as everyone else involved in building our communities, for that matter.”
-30-
MEDIA CONTACT
Rumana D’Souza
(778) 681-4859
rumana@bccare.ca
About BC Care Providers Association
Established in 1977, 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, home care, home support, and commercial members from across British Columbia.
