Ensuring high-quality care for seniors is about more than just meeting basic needs—it’s about creating environments where older adults can thrive, maintain their dignity, and enjoy a fulfilling life. This may be with a congregate care setting, such as in long-term care or independent living, or at home with supports.
Quality care and quality of life are interdependent; excellent care supports a better life, while a focus on quality of life enhances the care provided.
Our advocacy focuses on fostering both, with particular attention to models that not only meet clinical needs but also enrich the social, emotional, and cultural aspects of seniors’ lives.
Defining Quality of Care & Life
Quality care is the foundation that ensures seniors are healthy, safe, and well-supported. It includes medical services, daily living assistance, and other forms of care that address the basic and complex needs of older adults. However, traditional care indicators, such as health outcomes and service provision, while important, do not fully capture what it means to live well. True success in senior care requires us to also focus on quality of life—the non-medical aspects that are equally vital to a senior’s well-being.
Quality of life encompasses much more than physical health; it’s about the joy, connections, and purpose that make life truly meaningful. This includes social activities, cultural engagement, personal hobbies, and the freedom to make choices that shape one’s daily experiences.
Although the models discussed below are often categorized as “care models,” they are intentionally designed to integrate and prioritize the social, emotional, and cultural dimensions that extend beyond traditional care approaches.
Social Model of Care
Dementia-Friendly Care Model
Quality care transcends physical services; it’s about delivering these services in a way that respects the individuality and preferences of each person. The social model of care represents a holistic approach, shifting the focus from merely treating symptoms to enhancing the overall quality of life. This model encourages active participation from individuals in their care decisions and promotes environments that feel more like home, fostering a sense of community and belonging. Importantly, it also recognizes that seniors have the autonomy to make decisions about their lives, including the choice to live at risk—a fundamental aspect of respecting their dignity and independence. By implementing this model, we ensure that care is not just about maintaining health, but also about enriching the lives of seniors, allowing them to continue living with purpose and joy.
A significant aspect of quality care is ensuring that it meets the specific needs of individuals living with dementia. The dementia-friendly care model is designed to provide a safe and supportive environment that respects the dignity and autonomy of these individuals. This model includes specialized training for staff to better understand and respond to the unique challenges of dementia care. It also involves designing living spaces that reduce confusion and anxiety, using clear signage, familiar surroundings, and calming colours to create a more comforting environment. Additionally, personalized care plans are developed to cater to each individual’s history, preferences, and abilities, ensuring that care is both respectful and responsive to their specific needs. By focusing on these aspects, we can significantly improve both the care and quality of life for those living with dementia, ensuring they experience dignity, connection, and comfort.
Building a Future of Quality
The principles of quality care we advocate for are not mere ideals—they are attainable goals that can truly transform the lives of seniors across British Columbia. Through advocacy and the adoption of proven care models, BCCPA and our members strive to create care environments and services that embody the values of dignity, respect, and community.
Our vision is a future where every senior in British Columbia not only receives high-quality care but also enjoys a rich, fulfilling life, supported by compassionate care that honours their contributions and upholds their rights.
Learn more below about the Association’s previous and current initiatives to promote quality.
