January 8, 2019 (Surrey, B.C.) — B.C.’s Minister of Health Adrian Dix visited Elim Village campus of care in Surrey, B.C. today to announce that $12.8 million in 2018-19 funding would be allocated to increase staffing levels and ensure that seniors get the care they need in Delta, Langley and Surrey’s long-term care homes.
This initial investment represents efforts to reach the target of 3.36 care hours per-resident day, on average, across health authorities, by 2021. The $12.8 million is part of the first year of a three-year plan to increase the direct care seniors receive in care homes. It is also part of $48.4 million being allocated to health authorities in 2018-19 to fund over one million more hours of direct care throughout the province. The three-year investment will total $240 million.
In his remarks, Minister Dix noted that this funding represents the important role that non-government care homes play in providing seniors care, and that it is intended to address the fact that funding for private and non-profit care homes has not kept pace with that which has been afforded to owned and operated homes.
“We are very pleased by today’s update from Minister Dix, and the acknowledgement of the critical role that non-government seniors care providers serve in British Columbia, and the need to fund them fairly,” says Daniel Fontaine, CEO, BCCPA. “The Minister also underlined the vital role nurses and health care aides have in our system, and that he is committed to working with his partners in the sector, such as BCCPA, health authorities and labour unions to address the critical shortage of staff.”
Minister Dix repeated his earlier statement that seniors care homes in B.C. need up to 1,500 net new health care aides to meet the commitment of 3.36 hours of care per day.
“We are appreciative of the opportunities we have had to work with the Minister and Ministry of Health staff to strengthen seniors care. Our collaborations will continue this year as we strive to ensure that we have the staff to support the increased care hours made possible through this funding.”
-30-
MEDIA CONTACT: Rumana D’Souza, BCCPA Digital Media & Communications Coordinator, (778) 681-4859, rumana@bccare.ca
