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January 2025 Message from the Seniors Advocate

As we close the chapter on another remarkable year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the work of the Office of the Seniors Advocate in 2024.

Last year was one of transition for the office, as Canada’s first seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie retired after setting up the office in 2014. Since stepping into this role in March, I have received a warm welcome from staff, service providers, the public and most importantly, seniors and their families.

The office released three systemic reviews last year with a total of 14 recommendations for change to the B.C. government. The reviews cover the challenges of seniors living in rural areas of B.C., a summary of what I heard firsthand from seniors after my first tour of the province and, finally, the forgotten rental rights of seniors residing in independent living retirement homes.

In addition, the office continued to perform its core functions of monitoring and reporting on the status of fundamental seniors’ services in B.C., updating the Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Directory and operating our information and referral service.

We finished the year by launching a survey on age discrimination to determine the extent to which it is an issue for British Columbians. The results of the survey will support future work of the office and I look forward to sharing the results with the public later this year.

Throughout 2024, both Isobel and I worked hard to shine a spotlight on seniors’ issues in effort to keep them top of mind for both the public and government. I will continue this important work with the new government and all elected officials in the new year.

In the upcoming year, we plan to tackle the issue of access to long-term care, continue investigating the prevalence of age discrimination in B.C., explore how family caregivers can be better supported and explore new and emerging issues facing older people.

The office will continue to monitor and analyze seniors’ services, track issues raised by older adults and family members who contact our office directly and identify systemic issues for B.C. seniors.  

Happy New Year! I wish everyone good health and happiness in 2025.

Yours sincerely,

Dan Levitt
BC Seniors Advocate