Seniors give up basic needs to keep homes: Advocate

Lorraine Logan recognizes that she and her partner could lose their mortgaged condo in New Westminster.

“If something happens to one of us?” said Logan, 70. “It’s got to be sold. Two incomes supporting the mortgage, right? So we’re just trying to build up equity before I die.”

On Thursday, B.C. seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie urged the government to accept 18 recommendations to make housing more affordable.

“There are seniors who need a lot of help and who are in desperate need,” Mackenzie said.

Of the 820,000 British Columbians aged 65 or older, half live on incomes of $24,000 per year or less, according to the report.

Mackenzie found some lowincome seniors forego basic health care, from dentistry to hearing aids, compression stockings or incontinence supplies.

“If your income is only $22,000 a year, it actually doesn’t matter how much your house is worth because what you actually need is money to pay the bills.”

Among other recommendations, the report calls on the province to:

Increase subsidies through the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program.

Develop more rural housing.

Allow seniors to defer paying for electricity, home insurance and major repairs until their home is sold.

Redesign the Registered Assisted Living program to accommodate more seniors.

Commit to providing a single room with ensuite bathroom for 95 per cent of residential care beds by 2025.

Housing Minister Rich Coleman declined an interview, but a statement from the ministry said the report is being reviewed.

“Many of the recommendations, if adopted, would require extensive policy work and possibly, changes to legislation,” said the statement.