Should B.C. follow the lead of Alberta and exempt care homes from paying municipal property tax? Is it time to implement a long-term care insurance program across Canada? Are care credits the answer to providing choice for seniors looking for a service provider? Do we need to increase the number of care hours we fund on the front-line? Those are only a few of the questions being asked in a new online survey launched by the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) today.
The BCCPA encourages all B.C. residents to participate in this province-wide survey which will help to shape the future direction of seniors care in B.C.The survey is part of a broader consultation being conducted this summer by the BCCPA regarding two separate White Papers released in May and can easily be completed by clicking here. Respondents will have until midnight on Aug. 31 to complete the survey.
“We want to hear from as many British Columbians as possible in every corner of this province,” says Daniel Fontaine, CEO for the BCCPA. “This is their chance to weigh-in and let us know what their priorities are when it comes to seniors care and what types of solutions and initiatives we should be implementing over the coming years.”
Results from the survey will be reported out at the inaugural BC Continuing Care Collaborative taking place at the SFU Wosk Centre for Dialogue in Vancouver on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Over 150 seniors, community leaders, front-line workers, labour representatives, residential & home care service providers, government representatives, health authorities and key stakeholders are being invited to participate in the session. Attendees at the Collaborative event will be participating in several live votes on specific components of the White Papers – in particular those that garnered the most interest during the consultation phase.
“This is the largest type of public consultation we’ve conducted in our Association’s 40 year history,” says Fontaine. “Given the significant interest in seniors issues, we think the timing is right.”
Additional feedback can be provided through social media using the special hashtag #CareToChat as well as by leaving a comment or idea on our Facebook page. The BCCPA will also be surveying its membership as well as conducting a series of focus groups over this summer. A final summary report will be drafted later this year and will be made available to the public early in 2017.
