Improving the Care of BC Seniors

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Office of Seniors Advocate Established

Seniors to shape advocate’s role as part of action plan

VICTORIA – B.C. seniors, families and stakeholders are being invited to help shape the implementation of a comprehensive action plan – including the establishment of an advocate – to ensure a more accessible, transparent and accountable approach to seniors’ care.

“Today, we are announcing concrete actions to improve the lives of seniors, their families and their caregivers,” said Health Minister Michael de Jong. “Over the past decade, our focus has been on expanding the range of care options for seniors to meet increased demand for the fastest growing segment of our population. Now is the time to expand our efforts in ways that help seniors and their families navigate the system, easily access information about care options, and have a clear and simple way to have any concerns addressed.”

‘Improving the Care of B.C. Seniors: An Action Plan’ addresses concerns expressed publicly and directly to the Health Minister and the ministry by families and care providers. The direction of the action plan was also informed by the findings and recommendations in the comprehensive report on seniors’ care by B.C. ombudsperson Kim Carter. The minister and ministry staff have reviewed Carter’s report and met directly with her on numerous occasions about the need for improvements in channels of communication and the quality of care.
Through the action plan, stakeholders – including seniors and their families – will be consulted on specific items. Consultation initiatives include determining the role of the seniors’ advocate and developing a strategy to address the abuse of seniors.

“Seniors are an important sector of our community and it is critical we plan to meet the needs of this growing population,” said Ron Cantelon, Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors to the Minister of Health. “The focus of the action plan is not only on the system of care but also compliments initiatives that support healthy aging to improve the quality of life for all B.C. seniors and help them remain independent for as long as possible.”

The action plan will support healthy aging to improve the quality of life for B.C. seniors to help them remain independent for as long as possible. The Province is providing $15 million to the United Way of the Lower Mainland, to expand the availability of non-medical home support services in up to 65 communities across the province over the next three years. This will build on five pilots already underway that offer seniors access to a range of support services, such as transportation, housekeeping, home repair, yard maintenance, friendly visiting, and information and referral.

“We applaud government for expanding non-medical home support for seniors,” said Michael McKnight, president and CEO, United Way of the Lower Mainland. “The five pilots are making a significant difference to seniors who want to stay in their homes longer and require some simple services to help them do so. They make a lot of sense and are the right thing to do.”

The Province is also providing $1.4 million to the BC Association of Community Response Networks to support prevention and education activities in collaboration with local stakeholders to end abuse and neglect of older adults in B.C.

“Providing support to community response networks that work at the grass-roots level makes a difference in the lives of older adults who may be abused or neglected,” said Sherry Baker, executive director, BC Association of Community Response Networks. “With the $1.4 million in funding from government, we will be able to further strengthen the support for our collaborative work to promote safety and security for older adults.”

Actions include:

• Ensuring concerns and complaints are responded to and resolved in a timely manner through the establishment of the Office of the Seniors’ Advocate, and a separate toll-free phone line for seniors and families to launch June 2012.
• Improved access to information for seniors and their families so they can make better care choices. This includes online access to facility reports, easier access to assessments of seniors’ health needs and information on policies around eligibility, charges and hardship waivers – all by September 2012.
• Piloting a new risk assessment tool for residential facilities to provide a more accurate indication of potential risks to quality and safety, as well as establishing enforcement processes that ensure compliance.
• Protection and safety of seniors through the development of a provincial elder abuse prevention, identification and response plan by December 2012, which will include consultations with key stakeholders starting in February 2012.
• Meeting the support needs of seniors in their community so they age in place by expanding non-medical home support from five communities to up to 65 communities over three years, initiating opportunities for new housing and care options, providing provincewide, after-hours access to palliative tele-nursing beginning April 2012 and better integration beginning April 2012 of primary and community care for seniors.

“British Columbia has an opportunity to lead the country in meeting the challenge of responding to the needs of our aging population,” added de Jong. “We are committed to a fair, equitable system that is clear, helpful and beneficial for seniors.”

Health authorities expect to spend over $2.5 billion on home and community care this year for seniors – an increase of 60 per cent from 2001.

‘Improving Care for B.C. Seniors: An Action Plan’ is available online at: www.seniorsbc.ca.