Seniors

Louis Brier Home and Hospital is a long-term care facility in Vancouver, pictured in 2019. CEO David Keselman said guidelines need to reflect how care has become more complex since he first became a nurse roughly 30 years ago. (Photo: Google Street View).

‘We are still not prepared’: B.C. care home advocates call for action amid recommendations

Experts say it is time to re-evaluate staffing ratio guidelines in the province

Louis Brier Home and Hospital is a long-term care facility in Vancouver, pictured in 2019. CEO David Keselman said guidelines need to reflect how care has become more complex since he first became a nurse roughly 30 years ago. (Photo: Google Street View).
Liberal MP Hedy Fry speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, on June 15, 2017. Fry introduced a private bill in late June, Bill C-295, that would amend Section 215 of the Criminal Code to specifically criminalize owners and managers of long-term care homes for failing to provide the “necessaries of life” to vulnerable adults. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld

Ottawa exploring criminal reform as Liberal MP tables bill on long-term care neglect

Bill C-295 looks to criminalize care home owners who fail to provide residents with necessities

Liberal MP Hedy Fry speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, on June 15, 2017. Fry introduced a private bill in late June, Bill C-295, that would amend Section 215 of the Criminal Code to specifically criminalize owners and managers of long-term care homes for failing to provide the “necessaries of life” to vulnerable adults. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld
B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie held a Town Hall meeting at the Campbell River Seniors Centre Wednesday, July 6 to hear issues and concerNs from Campbell River seniors. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror

Majority of seniors in B.C. live independently in their own home

B.C. Seniors Advocate provides snapshot of the state of life as a senior in the province

B.C. Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie held a Town Hall meeting at the Campbell River Seniors Centre Wednesday, July 6 to hear issues and concerNs from Campbell River seniors. Photo by Alistair Taylor/Campbell River Mirror
Pictured during 2015, Aaron Craven (right) is with his mother, Patricia Craven (center), and his father, Donald Craven (left), who passed away in 2018. (Photo: Aaron Craven/ B.C. Alzheimer's Society).

Advocates want more consistency in B.C.’s extended care visitation policies post-pandemic

Constantly shifting rules around essential visitors hard on people’s mental health

Pictured during 2015, Aaron Craven (right) is with his mother, Patricia Craven (center), and his father, Donald Craven (left), who passed away in 2018. (Photo: Aaron Craven/ B.C. Alzheimer's Society).
B.C. is investing another $12 million into the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program, and upping the weekly amount participants receive from $21 to $27. (Photo: BC Association of Farmers’ Markets)

B.C. upping access to farmers’ market coupon program with $12-million injection

Program provides low-income households, seniors, pregnant people with weekly coupons for local goods

B.C. is investing another $12 million into the BC Farmers’ Market Nutrition Coupon Program, and upping the weekly amount participants receive from $21 to $27. (Photo: BC Association of Farmers’ Markets)
The interior of Ucluelet resident Katharine Fleming’s van was demolished on Friday morning when a bear became trapped inside and desperately tried to break its way out. (Andrew Bailey photo)

Bear destroys Vancouver Island van after getting trapped inside

RCMP officer frees black bear, but not before it obliterates the vehicle’s interior

The interior of Ucluelet resident Katharine Fleming’s van was demolished on Friday morning when a bear became trapped inside and desperately tried to break its way out. (Andrew Bailey photo)
Residents are shown at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. The latest census release on aging marks another milestone on the slow march to what experts warn will be a crisis in care for Canada’s elders. CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

2021 census shows number of seniors over 85 expected to triple in next 25 years

Last year the oldest baby boomers turned 76, and most probably live independently

Residents are shown at Idola Saint-Jean long-term care home in Laval, Que., Friday, February 25, 2022. The latest census release on aging marks another milestone on the slow march to what experts warn will be a crisis in care for Canada’s elders. CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
While on his daily morning coffee run, Saanich resident Robert Davies, 90, found a large sum of cash and reported it to the police, who were able to reunite the person with their lost money. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

B.C. senior discovers $1,600, ‘does the right thing’ by alerting police

Robert Davies finds cash on morning coffee run; police reunite money with owner

While on his daily morning coffee run, Saanich resident Robert Davies, 90, found a large sum of cash and reported it to the police, who were able to reunite the person with their lost money. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
Ken Dimond and his grandson, Eric Staal, share a moment during Ken’s 105th birthday party. Photo by Terry Farrell

The secret to a long life? “Wake up every morning!,” says B.C. man on 105th birthday

Ken Dimond celebrates 105th birthday in Courtenay with friends and family

Ken Dimond and his grandson, Eric Staal, share a moment during Ken’s 105th birthday party. Photo by Terry Farrell
Providing day-to-day support for a loved one can take a toll on the caregiver. Photo: Unsplash.com

Who cares for the caregiver? A B.C. senior’s struggle to care for her husband

Elder abuse and caregiver self-neglect are more common than you think: Seniors Advocate

Providing day-to-day support for a loved one can take a toll on the caregiver. Photo: Unsplash.com
People are shown inside Maison Herron, a long-term care home in the Montreal suburb of Dorval, Que., on Saturday, April 11, 2020. An advocate for seniors in British Columbia says a rise in volunteer services supporting the elderly has been one of the “brightest lights” throughout the pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Volunteers who supported seniors a lasting legacy of pandemic: B.C. seniors advocate

Isobel Mackenzie says nearly 26,000 seniors benefited from the generosity of over 13,000 volunteers

People are shown inside Maison Herron, a long-term care home in the Montreal suburb of Dorval, Que., on Saturday, April 11, 2020. An advocate for seniors in British Columbia says a rise in volunteer services supporting the elderly has been one of the “brightest lights” throughout the pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Lynn Fanelli and husband Paul.

Lack of heat in husband’s care home has Kelowna woman demanding provincial action

‘I want full disclosure for those who have a vested interest in the healthcare of family members’

Lynn Fanelli and husband Paul.
A health-care worker looks out of a window at Maison Herron, a long-term care home in the Montreal suburb of Dorval, on Saturday, April 11, 2020. The physical and mental health impacts of isolation periods are high for seniors living in care facilities.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Advocates say lengthy COVID isolation for seniors in care may do more harm than good

Authorities asked to reconsider guidelines as to when residents must isolate

A health-care worker looks out of a window at Maison Herron, a long-term care home in the Montreal suburb of Dorval, on Saturday, April 11, 2020. The physical and mental health impacts of isolation periods are high for seniors living in care facilities.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
A woman tries to speak to her mother, through a window at Orchard Villa Care home, in Pickering, Ont. on Saturday, April 25, 2020. The expert spearheading new draft national standards for long-term care says they must strike a balance between residents’ safety and their quality of life. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

New Canadian care home standards to emphasize fact that they are homes, not wards

Consultations showed pandemic policies hurt mental and social well-being, balance called for

A woman tries to speak to her mother, through a window at Orchard Villa Care home, in Pickering, Ont. on Saturday, April 25, 2020. The expert spearheading new draft national standards for long-term care says they must strike a balance between residents’ safety and their quality of life. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Minister Sheila Malcomson speaks at an Oct. 29 announcement of new treatment spaces at Red Fish Healing Centre on Kwikwetlem territory. (Goverment of BC/YouTube)

B.C. gives $720K grant to organization supporting seniors at risk of homelessness

SHINE helps connect seniors to housing and other supports

Minister Sheila Malcomson speaks at an Oct. 29 announcement of new treatment spaces at Red Fish Healing Centre on Kwikwetlem territory. (Goverment of BC/YouTube)
Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie is photographed at her office in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, December 15, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Seniors advocate calls for reporting line for abuse and neglect amid rising reports

49 per cent increase in reports of abuse, neglect and self-neglect over past 3 to 5 years

Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie is photographed at her office in Victoria, B.C., on Friday, December 15, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Coroner Géhane Kamel speaks during a news conference in Trois-Rivières, Que., on Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz

No ‘euthanasia’ in Quebec care homes during COVID-19, expert tells coroner’s inquest

Inquest examining people who died in residential settings during first months of COVID-19 pandemic.

Coroner Géhane Kamel speaks during a news conference in Trois-Rivières, Que., on Oct. 5, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz
A Quebec coroner reminded an inquest into deaths at a privately-owned Montreal long-term care home that both the regional health authority and the care home’s management were responsible for the care of vulnerable patients. Flowers are shown outside Maison Herron, a long term care home in the Montreal suburb of Dorval on April 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

‘Beyond what’s humanly acceptable’: Testimony ends at Quebec long-term care inquest

Coroner examining the failings at Résidence Herron has concluded the factual portion of her inquiry

A Quebec coroner reminded an inquest into deaths at a privately-owned Montreal long-term care home that both the regional health authority and the care home’s management were responsible for the care of vulnerable patients. Flowers are shown outside Maison Herron, a long term care home in the Montreal suburb of Dorval on April 12, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes
Fraser Health in mid-September declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Westminster House in South Surrey. (Google Streetview photo)

Extended quarantine ‘very grim’ for residents of B.C. retirement residence: daughter

Health authority procedures questioned after six-week COVID-19 outbreak at Westminster House

Fraser Health in mid-September declared a COVID-19 outbreak at Westminster House in South Surrey. (Google Streetview photo)
FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021 file photo, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Patron, leaves after attending a Service of Thanksgiving to mark the Centenary of the Royal British Legion at Westminster Abbey, in London. Queen Elizabeth II is Britain’s longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch. But don’t call her an oldie. The 95-year-old queen has politely declined the honor of being named “Oldie of the Year” by a British magazine. The Oldie magazine on Tuesday Oct. 19, 2021, published the queen’s response to its suggestion. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool, File)

Thanks but no: UK queen turns down “Oldie of the Year” title

Queen Elizabeth says she does not meet ‘the relevant criteria’

FILE - In this Tuesday, Oct. 12, 2021 file photo, Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, Patron, leaves after attending a Service of Thanksgiving to mark the Centenary of the Royal British Legion at Westminster Abbey, in London. Queen Elizabeth II is Britain’s longest-lived and longest-reigning monarch. But don’t call her an oldie. The 95-year-old queen has politely declined the honor of being named “Oldie of the Year” by a British magazine. The Oldie magazine on Tuesday Oct. 19, 2021, published the queen’s response to its suggestion. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool, File)