BCCPA launches campaign calling for better seniors care

The BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) released its report on seniors and new campaign today calling for more funding for seniors care.

The “Care Can Be There“ is a province-wide campaign promoting calling for more than $300 million over five years in new annual investments from the BC government. The BCCPA spent spring 2016 conducting online surveys, public polls, and talking to industry workers areas in need of improvement. This resulted in the Strengthening Seniors Care: A Made-in-BC Roadmap, a report filled with 30 recommendations across four major investment areas – people, infrastructure, innovation, and quality of life.

The highlights from the plan include investments in the following areas:

People

• Set as a minimum 3.36 direct care hours per day, per senior in publicly funded care homes
• Increase the minimum home care visit from the current 15 minutes to 30 minutes
• Invest up to $5 million per year over the next 5 years to recruit, train and retain the necessary workers to support a rapidly ageing population
• Allocate up to $20 million to re-purpose underutilized/unused care beds in order to meet the BC government’s commitment to further expand end-of-life care by 2021

Infrastructure

• Target up to $100 million in new infrastructure funding to support the replacement and refurbishment of older care homes. This funding could be used to reduce workplace injuries by installing new ceiling lifts as well as helping to move toward the goal of ensuring 100% of BC care homes have automated sprinkler systems.

Innovation

• Dedicate up to $2 million to pilot a new Care Credit program which would increase choice and access for seniors requiring home care and support services across B.C. Incorporate a feasibility study regarding expanding the Care Credit program into long-term care.
• Support the establishment of continuing care hubs – with a focus on rural BC – which aims to better allow people to age in place.

Quality of Life

• Dedicate up to $100 per month for every senior in publicly funded residential care in order to dramatically increase nutritional choice & life enhancing therapies.