Burnaby, B.C. (June 26, 2020): In its 2021 Budget Submission, titled COVID-19: A Turning Point for BC Seniors’ Care, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) has put forward recommended funding measures that will aid the seniors’ care sector in becoming more resilient against any future waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The pandemic has put further pressure on an increasingly strained continuing care sector, as older adults have more complex needs than ever before and workforce shortages are severe.
“COVID-19 has permanently altered the landscape for British Columbia’s seniors’ living and care providers and those living and working in long-term care, assisted living and independent living residences,” says BCCPA Acting CEO Mike Klassen.
“By making strategic investments in B.C.’s continuing care sector now, we can ensure that our province will be better equipped to respond to any threats posed by the coronavirus in the future.”
The 2021 Budget Submission makes five key recommendations to prepare the continuing care sector for current and future impacts of COVID-19.
- Ensure adequate supply of PPE
The B.C. government, working in collaboration with commercial distribution networks, should invest $10M to create regional stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE) for future pandemic preparation for B.C.’s health care sector, with an emphasis on seniors’ living and care providers, including non-government home health care operators.
- Strengthen the seniors care workforce
The B.C. government should invest $20 million over three years to fund a comprehensive, industry-led health human resource strategy for the seniors’ care and living sector to address chronic worker shortages.
- Implement tax credits for home health care and independent living
The B.C. government should create a new provincial tax credit program, through which seniors who access non-government home health care or independent living are eligible to receive a refundable tax credit of $2,500.
- Fully fund care providers for COVID-19 costs
The government should provide funding of at least $15 million per month to cover COVID-19 related costs for non-government long-term care, assisted living, independent living operators in B.C.
- Foster innovation to protect seniors and reduce isolation
The B.C. government should allocate $30 million over three years to establish a COVID-19 Innovation Fund to assist non-government independent living, assisted living and long-term care homes to ensure safety, improve quality of life and reduce social isolation by:
- implementing measures to ensure proper physical distancing through building enhancements and the implementation of creative visiting solutions;
- improving access to new tools and technologies for better communication between seniors and their families; and
- increasing and modifying existing recreational therapy programs to improve seniors quality of life.
A full copy of BCCPA’s 2021 Budget Submission is available here.
Read the remarks made by Acting CEO Mike Klassen to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services here.
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Media Contact
Rumana D’Souza-Garcin
Acting Manager of Communications
(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 380 long-term care, assisted living, home care, home support, and commercial members from across British Columbia. Through its operating arm EngAge BC, the organization represents independent living, as well as private pay assisted living, long-term care and home health services.
