June 5-11 is BC Seniors Week and it’s a chance for us to look back on the many contributions they have made and to highlight what the provincial government has done to meet seniors’ needs.
Premier Christy Clark chose to have a parliamentary secretary for seniors to the health minister to emphasize seniors are a part of the families-first agenda. Families are not exclusively young parents with children; they include seniors as grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles.
Over the next 20 years, the number of British Columbians over age 65 will almost double to one-in-four of us.
Preparing for this shift will require the involvement of government at all levels, agencies, community organizations, the business sector and individuals. Working together with seniors will help provide the framework for action to support older citizens over the coming years.
The province has taken numerous steps to help our seniors. This includes building 6,327 net new beds and replacing 7,453 residential care beds, assisted living and supportive housing units across B.C. – that is 13,780 new beds in total since 2001.
We expect health authorities to spend more than $2.5 billion on home and community care this year for seniors, up $940 million from 2001, an increase of 60 per cent. This includes:
• Increased spending on residential care and assisted living by more than 50 per cent since 2001, from slightly more than $1.1 billion to almost $1.7 billion this year.
• Increased spending on home care and home support by almost 86 per cent since 2001, from $404 million to more than $753 million this year.
Some 23 per cent more clients received home care professional services (nursing and community rehabilitation) than in 2001.
Between 2001 and 2009, the average number of care hours per home support client increased by 17 per cent, from 212 hours to 249 hours per client. Approximately 71 per cent of all home-support recipients pay nothing at all.
These changes have reduced wait times to access residential care from up to one year in 2001. Today, the median wait time is less than 90 days.
Seniors also have a role to play in the Healthy Families BC initiative. This $68.7-million strategy will help seniors make healthy choices and introduce innovative approaches to challenges facing the health-care system.
The province is committed to the Seniors’ Healthy Living Framework, which supports older people to be healthy. This reduces the risk of diseases and chronic conditions, and help maintains health, allowing people to stay in their own homes as long as possible.
Whether it’s going out for a walk, or joining an exercise class, staying active is an integral part of staying fit and being independent.
There are numerous ActNow BC Seniors Community Parks to help seniors stay active. Trainers are on hand at the parks during BC Seniors Week to demonstrate how to use the specialized equipment. For information, go to http://www.actnowbc.ca/seniors/actnow_bc__seniors_community_parks?tpid=309&.
Seniors are a valuable resource, sharing their skills, knowledge and life experience, and enriching our communities with their energy and commitment. I thank them and encourage everyone to participate in a seniors’ week activity in your community.
Dr. Margaret MacDiarmid is Parliamentary Secretary for seniors to the health minister.
