Whereas a recent report by the Office of the Seniors Advocate highlights the significant challenges faced by seniors aged 65 or older living in rural regions of British Columbia BC, including limited access to healthcare, lower incomes, and inadequate options for long-term care and affordable housing; And whereas rural seniors constitute a significant portion of BCs population, with projections indicating a further increase in their proportion by 2032; Whereas the resilience of rural seniors is admirable, but it is evident that they face substantial barriers due to the lack of resources and supports available in their communities: Therefore be it resolved that the NCLGA and UBCM acknowledge the findings of the Seniors Advocates report and recognize the urgent need to address the inequities faced by rural seniors in British Columbia; And be it further resolved that UBCM call upon the provincial government to take immediate action by implementing the following recommendations put forth by the Seniors Advocate: 1. Develop and implement strategies on rural seniors housing, rural health, rural seniors home and community care, and rural transportation including the recommendation of an increase to direct patient care hours. 2. Create and implement a long-term care and assisted living plan and community care based on equity. 3. Improve upon and better promote the Travel Assistance Program and Hope Air to facilitate access to healthcare services for rural seniors.
Ministry of Health Community-Based Seniors Services CBSS Budget 2024 invests 127M over 3 years to expand and evolve non-medical home support services and health promotion programming for seniors throughout the province. This investment is expected to benefit seniors in rural communities by: 1. Increasing Community Connector positions in BC from 19 in 202324 to approximately 90 in 202526. These positions provide one-on-one support to seniors, ensuring coordinated access to community resources, and facilitating healthcare referrals. Where appropriate, Community Connector split their time across multiple smaller communities to ensure more seniors can access services; and 2. Expanding the Family and Friend Caregiver Support Program and Therapeutic Activation Program for Seniors by 6 to 7 program sites annually, starting in 202526. Areas of British Columbia. that demonstrate highest need and lack of comparable services will be prioritized. Approximately 23 percent of HLTH-funded CBSS agencies are in Consolidated Local Health Areas CLHAs considered rural remote; 47 percent are in CLHAs considered mixed urban-rural. The Better at Home BH program supports seniors with day-to-day tasks, such as light housekeeping and grocery shopping, helping to maintain independence at home. Currently, 97 BH programs 31 percent in rural CLHAs and 44 percent in mixed urban-rural CLHAs operate across more than 260 communities in BC. Transportation and food security are critical challenges for many seniors, especially in rural areas where limited services increase isolation and restrict access to essential support. To bridge this gap, starting in 202425, CBSS agencies can apply for funding to expand targeted transportation options and social meal programs. This funding is prioritized in areas identified as transportation or food deserts. Home Health Budget 2024 provides 227M over 3 years to improve the quality, responsiveness, and effectiveness of Home Health HH services through optimizations in service delivery. Workforce shortages are a challenge in rural areas and Health Authorities HAs are working to address gaps in service availability across the province. Budget 2024 aims to expand the overall HH workforce to meet growing demand. BCs Health Human Resources Strategy and continued investment in the Health Career Access Program HCAP has resulted in 1,990 hires into HS across the province since September 20201. Investments in HH are expected to benefit seniors in rural areas through expansion of service hours for client intake and service availability, improved overnight coverage, and standardized response times. Policy development is underway to guide HAs in supporting the delivery of culturally safe HH services in First Nations communities, many of which are rural and remote. This work was undertaken with First Nations partners including representation from 92 First Nations communities and is aligned with BCs reconciliation mandate and objectives to address health inequities. HAs continue to expand the use of virtual health technologies to overcome distance and workforce challenges with the aim of increasing the availability of seniors care closer to home. Assisted Living AL and Long-Term Care LTC Services The Aging with Dignity federal funding supports actions over five years to help British Columbians age with dignity, closer to home through access to Home and Community Care and increase quality of life in LTC. The ministry is also implementing an LTC Quality Framework focused on improving the quality of care, quality of service and quality of life for residents, creating a more dignified, efficient, sustainable, and culturally appropriate LTC system. Investment in the renewal and expansion of long-term care LTC facilities is a priority for the ministry to meet the needs of the growing senior population. LTC home development projects, include 553 LTC beds replacement and net new, in rural areas, defined by the OSA report, including Vanderhoof, Vernon, Nelson, Fort St. James, Sechelt, Kitimat, and Smithers. There are also 1049 LTC beds replacement and net new near rural centers in Comox, Courtenay, Cranbrook, Campbell River, Prince George, and Quesnel which will further support rural access. The ministry has completed a strategic review and developed a phased strategy to enhance services and service sustainability, build capacity within publicly funded Assisted Living AL and ensure AL services meet the needs of a broader seniors population. Phase 1 of the AL strategy includes standardization of AL services across the province, and the ministry is currently engaging HAs in reviewing current AL policies on eligibility and access. Staffing shortages are also being addressed through the HCAP program. As of December 31, 2024, 7,235 HCAP positions have been filled within LTCAL sites. 3,076 at health authority sites, and 4,159 at privateaffiliate locations. Travel Assistance Program TAP and Hope Air The Province is committed to supporting BC residents who must travel within the province for specialized medical services, especially those living in rural, remote and Indigenous communities. BC residents, including seniors living in rural communities, have access to a variety of medical travel supports through provincial and regional programs. The primary public program for medical travel in BC is TAP. TAP helps alleviate some of the transportation costs for eligible BC residents who must travel within the province for non-emergency medical specialist services not available in their own community upon referral by a physician or nurse practitioner. The program is a corporate partnership between HLTH and private transportation carriers air, rail, bus, and ferry service who agree to waive or discount their regular fees. In late 2024, HLTH in collaboration with Ministry of Transportation approved an expansion of TAP to cover seven unregulated ferry routes. This expansion benefits those living in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities who must travel by ferry to access specialist services. HLTH advertises its list of TAP transportation partners on the TAP BC website. In addition to TAP, residents have access to medical travel support through various targeted programs, including, for example, through Health Connections offered by health authorities, and through the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, which offers medical transportation supplements to some recipients of income assistance and disability assistance. Hope Air is a national charity that provides free flights to people required to travel for medical care that cannot afford the cost. Hope Air receives support from the Province which helps to support BC residents with access to air travel but is managed and administered separately. HLTH remains committed to supporting BC residents, including seniors, who must travel outside of their home communities for medical care while working to address ongoing pressures to the health care budget. This includes a commitment to review TAP and other medical travel assistance and available funding in BC. Footnote: 1HSWBS, Report on HCAP Hires for Long-Term Care Assisted Living and Home Health Settings, Data range: Sept 9, 2020 - Dec 31, 2024