$500M plan to boost seniors’ care unveiled

Senior and caregiver advocates say a $500-million boost from the B.C. Ministry of Health will improve the lives of the elderly, so long as it ends up on the front line.

Health Minister Terry Lake announced the funding, along with a four-year action plan, on Thursday. It will translate to hiring 1,500 additional care aides, nurses and other caregivers to assist seniors in need, he said.

That means care-home residents will receive an average of 3.36 direct-care hours per day, the minimum recommended by the ministry. Lake said some facilities will fall below that staffing level, while others catering to seniors with more complex issues will be funded above it.

The plan dedicates $45 million this fiscal year, followed by $125 million, $150 million and $180 million in subsequent years.

Other elements include: legally requiring consent from seniors before admitting them to a facility; improving home-care supports so fewer people will enter care facilities; and improving short-term medical care at facilities so that residents won’t need to go to emergency rooms unnecessarily.

“Co-ordinated and integrated community care for seniors with complex medical needs and frailties will be improved with this plan,” Lake said.

The province has received criticism for failing to provide enough funding to staff care homes at the 3.36 direct-care-hour level. Last year, 90 per cent of care homes failed to staff at that level, up from 80 per cent in the previous year.

Seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie praised the plan, saying it means three million additional direct-care hours per year for the 27,000 seniors who need it.

“It could mean I could go to the bathroom within 15 minutes of asking, instead of 45. It might mean I could ask for a bath on Tuesday and get one, even though I just had one on Saturday. It might mean I could have the aide help me get to the dining room using my walker, instead of my wheelchair, because that’s the faster way to get there,” Mackenzie said.

Jennifer Whiteside, secretary-business manager of the Hospital Employees’ Union, said she is heartened by the staffing promise, which comes at a time when care aides are struggling to meet the basic needs of seniors.

Without enough hands on deck, she said care workers face a dangerous situation, with many injuries occurring when care is rushed.

“It’s equally important, however, to ensure there are robust accountability and monitoring measures to ensure the money that goes into the system actually winds up in front-line care and isn’t diverted to profits or administration,” Whiteside said.

NDP health critic Judy Darcy questioned the timing of the announcement.

“I find it unconscionable that this government has neglected seniors for 16 years, and then 61 days before an election, they decide they need to do something about it,” Darcy said.