Information on B.C.’s continuing care sector
Committed to Quality Care
- 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 https://bccare.ca/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/medcare-img22.jpgister 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).