BC Care Providers Association has taken a “zero-tolerance” approach when it comes to the abuse of seniors in care.
We have released two significant White Papers outlining policy options for the future of the continuing care sector.
Our Association has pro-actively developed a new Best Practices Guide to help reduce the need to administer anti-psychotic medication.
We established an online guide to develop inter-generational programs for schools, care homes and community groups.
We developed new health and safety guidelines aimed at better protecting residents and staff at seniors’ care homes across the province.
BC Care Providers introduced an easy-to read guide designed to assist with the establishment of resident/family councils and to support the momentum of existing councils.
We worked to establish SafeCare BC in 2013 – a non-profit society committed to reducing injuries in the continuing care sector.
Most of our member care homes prepare and cook nutritious meals for residents on-site.
Having an Economic Impact
BCCPA members create over 18,000 direct and indirect jobs in the continuing care sector.
Our members have made more than $1.4 billion in capital investments in communities across the province and many have been in operation for over 20 years.
BC’s Home and Community Care budget is near $3.0 billion, which is on par with the fifth largest Ministry.
Scope and Size
Our members care for over 12,000 seniors each day in residential care and assisted living.
Our home care members provide services to over 11,000 British Columbians each day.
BCCPA has over 340 residential care, assisted living, home care, home support and commercial members across British Columbia – and growing!
Promoting Employee Wellness, Training & Recognition
The average front-line licensed practical nurse (LPN) is making $23 to $28 per hour.
The average care aide in B.C. will make a starting salary of $19 per hour.
BCCPA initiated the BC Cares project which includes a special “Thank You” campaign for care aides.
We initiated the establishment of a new continuing care safety association to help reduce the frequency and severity of workplace injuries.
Demographics Demonstrate a Need
By 2036, the number of seniors in Canada is projected to reach between 9.9 and 10.9 million, more than double the 4.7 million in 2009 (Statistics Canada, May 2010).
In British Columbia, the number of people aged 65+ is estimated to grow from 730,500 in 2012 to 1,419,900 by 2036 (BC Stats).
By 2036, almost 25% of BC residents will be aged 65 or older (BC Stats).
The oldest age group (85+) consumes three times as much health care per person as those 65–74, and twice as much as those 75–84 (Fuchs 1998).
Residential care and short-stay hospital use increases with age (Liang et al. 1996).
While Canadians older than age 65 account for less than 14% of the population, they consume nearly 44% of provincial and territorial government health care dollars (Canadian Institute for Health Information [CIHI]).
However, the share spent on Canadian seniors has not changed much—from 43.6% in 1998 to 43.8% in 2008 (CIHI).
Providing Value for Money
According to the C.D. Howe Institute, “British Columbia has been almost uniquely successful among Canadian provinces in mitigating the impact of aging on its healthcare budget.”
Publicly funded healthcare in British Columbia has risen from 6.8% of provincial GDP in 1991 to about 8.0% in 2012. At the same time, it has risen from 35% of the provincial government’s program spending in 1991 to about 43% in 2012 (C.D. Howe Institute).
Projections show British Columbia’s public healthcare spending on provincial GDP rising from 8.0% in 2012 to 12.2% in 2035 and to 16.0% in 2062 (C.D. Howe Institute).
Demographic factors, at a combined 1.8%, have been a relatively modest contributor to the 7.4% per year growth in health spending. In contrast, price effects have been a significant driver of overall health spending (CIHI).
Compensation constitutes 60% of the total cost of hospital budgets. Compensation for the hospital workforce—the largest majority of whom are nurses—has grown faster than compensation in non-health sectors since 1998 (CIHI).
On average, health care spending per person is highest for those age 80 and older (CIHI).
Survey data shows a stronger correlation between the presence of multiple chronic diseases and higher utilization of health services than between age and utilization (CIHI).
BCCPA members create over 18,000 direct and indirect jobs in the continuing care sector.
