Today, BC Seniors Advocate released a new report titled “We Must Do Better: Home Support for B.C. Seniors.” The report calls for a fundamental restructuring of the province’s home support services. This follows a second review that found that the program was not keeping pace with the growing needs of the seniors’ population and that the service remains unaffordable for many seniors.
The report includes five recommendations for improvement:
- Eliminating financial barriers to home support
- Increasing respite care
- Standardizing and setting targets for all aspects of service delivery
- Modernizing care plans
- Measuring, monitoring and reporting program performance.
“Clearly more investment in seniors care is required at all levels if we are to take pressure off of family caregivers and the acute care system,” says BCCPA and EngAge BC CEO, Terry Lake.
“BC could consider a Quebec style home support tax credit that would give seniors and their caregivers more choice and flexibility in needed supports.”
Hear Lake’s comments on Global News here. Read the full report and news release here.
