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February 2025 Message from the Seniors Advocate

As we step into February, I’d like share some updates about ongoing projects and upcoming initiatives. The beginning of the year has been filled with important discussions and plans for the year.

As you may know, my office is undertaking a systemic review of long-term care supply and demand in B.C. The current availability of long-term care beds in B.C. falls far short of what is needed and seniors and caregivers are facing significant challenges due to long waitlists and wait times. Unfortunately, we are not keeping pace with the demands of the growing number of seniors who require government services like publicly-subsidized long-term care.

As part of the review, I would like to invite family caregivers across the province to share their experiences supporting a loved one to access long-term care. OSA is launching a survey later this month for caregivers with a family member currently waitlisted for publicly-subsidized long-term care, or admitted to a publicly-subsidized long-term care home within the past year. This important feedback from family caregivers will inform our report. 

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with my Council of Advisors in Richmond. These 20 exceptional seniors represent communities across the province from Campbell River, to Castlegar, to Fort St. John. They come together in person three times a year to discuss challenges that B.C. seniors are facing and possible solutions.

At this meeting the council had the opportunity to meet our new Minister of Health, Josie Osborne and Parliamentary Secretary for Seniors’ Services and Long-Term Care, Susie Chant, as well as engage on the topic of seniors’ transportation challenges with a panel discussion featuring representatives from BC Transit, TransLink, Hope Air and United Way BC.

I also consulted with the council on the needs of caregivers with a loved one waitlisted for a long-term care home, covering topics such as home support, respite care, caregiver burnout and timely access to beds. Their comments and concerns will also help inform our upcoming report on long-term care access.

I’d like to thank the council for the valuable insight they provide into seniors’ issues in their regions and their unwavering dedication to improving the lives of seniors both in their own communities and across B.C.

Sincerely,

Dan Levitt