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Monitoring Seniors Services

The Monitoring Seniors Services report focuses on key services in the province that fall under the Advocate’s legislated mandate. It highlights where seniors’ needs are being met and where improvements are most needed. Access to health care, appropriate housing, adequate transportation, enough income to meet basic needs such as food, shelter and medicines and protection from abuse and neglect are key to the health and well-being of seniors.

This report, first published in 2015, is updated each year reflecting the latest information available. Monitoring Seniors Services 2023 is the 9th edition and focuses on 2022/23 data.

Current report highlights:

  • The life expectancy at 65 years in B.C. is 21.8 years compared to 22.1 years in 2018.
  • The top five causes of death are: cancer (24%); heart disease (19%); cerebrovascular diseases (6%); COVID-19 (6%) and respiratory diseases (4%).
  • 26% of Emergency Department visits are patients 65+ but there are proportionately 5% fewer seniors visiting the emergency department compared to five years ago.
  • The average wait time for a long-term care bed went up 54% to 209 days compared to 2019, and the number of seniors on the waitlist has increased 136% to 5,175 over the same period.
  • The rate of publicly funded long term care beds per 1,000 population age 75+ has fallen 12%.
  • Over the past five years the number of seniors receiving the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) subsidy (23,506) decreased 3% and the average subsidy fell by 8% despite a 12% increase in monthly rents for SAFER clients.  Overall, the rate of seniors receiving SAFER has dropped 14%.
  • There has been a 59% increase in the waitlist for BC Housing Seniors Subsidized Housing, the average wait time has increased 11% and 17% of applicants have been waiting more than five years. 
  • There is a 114% increase in the number of abuse, neglect and self-neglect cases reported to the Designated Agencies over the last five years.
  • BC RCMP has seen a 55% increase in the number of violent offences reported for people 65 and older over the last 5 years.
  • Vancouver Police reported a 53% increase in cases of financial abuse against seniors over the last five years.

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