B.C. Struggles to Keep Up with Seniors' Needs as Population Surges, Advocate Warns

British Columbia’s ability to support its aging population is falling behind, according to a new report from Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt. Speaking on Wednesday, Levitt warned that urgent action is needed to address the growing demands of a population expected to comprise 25 per cent of the province by 2035.

The report identified concerning trends across key services, including health care, long-term care, home care, housing, and transportation.

“Even though the seniors’ population is increasing, we are not even maintaining service levels year over year,” Levitt said during a news conference. “In fact, they are getting worse. We are going backward in several very important areas.”

Rising Challenges for Seniors

B.C.’s senior population has grown by 45 per cent over the last decade to more than one million people. Despite some investments in senior services, Levitt noted that wait times for long-term care and surgeries are at critical levels.

• Long-Term Care: Nearly 6,500 seniors were on the waitlist for publicly subsidized long-term care beds in the past year—a 250 per cent increase over five years. While seniors admitted from hospitals wait an average of 36 days, those assessed while living at home face an average wait of 225 days.

• Surgeries: Wait times for knee and hip replacements have increased by more than 50 per cent over the last five years.

“You should be able to get into the system in a planned way while waiting at home, not having to go to the hospital to move in,” Levitt emphasized, calling this a top priority.

The advocate’s office plans to release a report next year tracking the supply and demand for long-term care across the province.

Financial Strain and Workforce Pressures

Earlier findings from Levitt revealed that one in four seniors in B.C. earns less than $23,000 annually, falling below the poverty line.

This financial strain is pushing many seniors to re-enter the workforce. Alison Silgardo, CEO of the Senior Services Society of B.C., described how some seniors are taking physically demanding jobs, such as Uber driving or cleaning, well into their 70s.

“The calls we get [are] seniors who are forced to go back and find work just to be able to keep their homes,” Silgardo said.

Non-profit organizations like Mission Possible are also seeing increased demand. Executive Director Matt Smedley reported a 56 per cent rise in seniors enrolling in job-training programs over the past year.

Recommendations for the Province

Levitt urged the government to develop a comprehensive, cross-ministry strategy to ensure seniors can access essential public services as they age.

“Have we done enough?” Levitt asked. “Clearly, from the data, we’re not keeping up with the pace that we need to invest in things like long-term care, assisted living, and more affordable housing.”

Despite the grim findings, Levitt expressed cautious optimism that his calls for action will lead to meaningful improvements for B.C.’s seniors.

“Addressing these gaps isn’t just a moral obligation; it’s an urgent necessity for the health and well-being of our communities,” he said.