FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New report calls B.C. government to address staffing shortages and protect quality care for seniors
June 10, 2026 (Burnaby, B.C.) – BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is calling on the provincial government to invest in a comprehensive human resources strategy for the seniors’ care sector, warning that persistent staffing shortages are putting increasing pressure on care providers and the seniors who rely on them.
In B.C., the demand of seniors care is rising, with 19% of seniors (65+) living with high-complexity chronic conditions and 5% diagnosed with dementia. However, the workforce needed to meet these increasingly complex care demands has not kept pace, as long-term care vacancies increased by 42% from 2019 to 2024, while turnover rates for 2025 were above 10% in many care homes.
The report, A Roadmap for B.C.’s Seniors Care Workforce: Refreshing B.C.’s Health Human Resource Strategy for the Care Economy, outlines practical recommendations developed with input from service providers and sector partners across the province to help stabilize and strengthen the workforce.
“The province’s five-year health human resources strategy is now entering its final year,” says BCCPA CEO Mary Polak. “Yet there remains significant uncertainty about how the unique workforce challenges in seniors’ care will be addressed.”
Drawing on insights from care providers and sector partners across B.C., the report presents recommendations to improve recruitment, retention, training, and workforce redesign in seniors’ care.
BCCPA says the strategy must be backed by targeted year-over-year investments, including support to reach an average of four hours of direct care per resident per day in long-term care.
“As we mark National Long-Term Care Day on June 13, this is an important moment to recognize the dedication of seniors’ care staff while also advancing the policy solutions needed to support them,” said BCCPA CEO Mary Polak.
Read and download A Roadmap for B.C.’s Seniors Care Workforce here.
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MEDIA CONTACT
Jamie Lozano
Manager, Communications
jamie [at] bccare.ca
604-736-4233 ext 236
ABOUT BCCPA
Established in 1977, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) is the leading voice for B.C.’s seniors living, wellness and care sector. Our growing membership base includes nearly 600 long-term care, assisted living, independent living, home health, associate, and commercial members across British Columbia.
