B. C. cares for seniors

Spending on home and community care up nearly 80 per cent since 2001

Re: Seniors care needs national strategy now, Editorial, Nov. 29

I wish to respond to your editorial and correct the statistics citing a decline in access to residential care and home support. It is disappointing to continually see editorials with misinformation on B. C.’ s investments in seniors care.

Each year, we spend over $ 2.8 billion on home and community care alone — an increase of more than 79 per cent since 2001. During this time, we have increased the number of publicly subsidized residential care, assisted living and group home beds by over 6,400 — to nearly 32,000 beds provincewide — and provide home health services to more than 96,000 people, up 23 per cent since 2001.

As health minister, my mandate is to ensure we have a system of effective health- care services for all British Columbians, now and into the future. Our strategic priorities document, Setting Priorities for the B. C. Health System, recognizes the need for a strong plan for seniors care. By focusing on the care needs of our seniors’ population, we are helping seniors stay healthier and in their own homes longer.

Since the federal changes to the Canada Health Transfer penalize provinces like B. C. with a higher number of seniors, we are advocating they create a national seniors’ strategy, which reflects the demographic realities of each region. I am committed to making decisions that support caring for seniors in the community and strengthen the delivery of health care in this province. TERRY LAKE B. C. minister of health