Whereas rural BC has a proportionately larger and faster growing seniors population than urban BC, yet has less infrastructure and resources to support its aging population; And whereas a greater and more focused provincial response to ongoing concerns about inequities in services and supports for seniors in rural BC is required to address the inadequacies of current approaches to such issues: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government establish a rural seniors caucus made up, but not limited to, of a combination of elected officials and government staff to serve as a platform for collaboration, advocacy, and policy development to address the specific challenges faced by rural seniors in BC.
Ministry of Health The Province is committed to ensuring that all people living in British Columbia have the health-care services they need, including patients and seniors in rural and remote communities. We understand the challenges rural seniors face in accessing health care while wanting to age in their communities, close to their loved ones and families. The Ministry of Health the ministry values the perspectives and voice of rural seniors and their caregivers and recognizes the importance of the lived experience of those residing in rural areas of the province. The ministry ensures the engagement of rural representation in consultation groups and the organized structures established to provide feedback to the government. Recent budgets have focused on both community-based seniors services and home health services in all geographic regions of BC, including rural areas. Budget 2024 included 354 million over three years to support seniors across the province to age comfortably and safely in their own homes and maximize their quality of life, including 227 million over three years to improve the quality, responsiveness, and effectiveness of home health services, and 127 million over three years to stabilize and expand community- based seniors services. This includes the Better at Home program, which supports seniors with day-to-day tasks, helping them to live at home for as long as possible. Work is also underway to guide health authorities in supporting the delivery of culturally safe home health services in First Nations communities, many of which are rural or remote. Investments in home health through Budget 2024 and the continued expansion of virtual health technologies will also help rural seniors receive the care they need in their communities and their homes. BCs Health Human Resource HHR Strategy and targeted investments in the home health workforce, Health Career Access Program HCAP, and GoHealthBC are aimed at increasing the recruitment and retention of health care workers, with specific strategies in place to meet HHR needs in rural BC. The Ministry of Health has taken steps to increase support for Resident and Family Councils RFCs in all licensed long-term care LTC homes, as announced by the Minister on November 3, 2022. These Councils are made up of residents and family members, and provide an opportunity for the voice of seniors to be heard at local RFCs in each long-term care home, regional RFCs in each Health Authority, and at a provincial RFC held at least twice annually. Council members from LTC RFCs in rural communities have made valuable contributions in these meetings. The ministry also receives feedback on rural issues in discussion with the Seniors Advocate. The Office of the Seniors Advocate has a robust Council of Advisors COA, who provides valuable insight into seniors issues in BC, including seniors residing in rural areas. This group of engaged and connected seniors represents each of the provinces five health authority regions and come from a wide range of educational, professional, and socio-economic backgrounds. The COA serves as both a sounding board for the Seniors Advocate as well as a conduit to the Advocate for information and concerns from all regions of the province, including rural areas. The Office of the Seniors Advocate has published a recent report entitled Resourceful and Resilient: Challenges Facing BCs Rural Seniors February 2024 which can be found on The Office of the Seniors Advocates website. Finally, the appointment of Debra Toporowski as Parliamentary Secretary for Rural Health and Susie Chant as Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors Services and Long-Term Care signals a focused commitment on the health of older British Columbians in rural and remote communities.