Oceanside Caregivers Urge More Respite and Seniors Care in Canada’s Oldest Region

Caregivers in the Oceanside region of mid-Vancouver Island are pressing local leaders for more respite services and long-term care options, saying current wait times are leaving families overwhelmed in one of Canada’s oldest demographics.

On Wednesday, a delegation delivered a petition with more than 2,260 signatures — along with 188 letters of support — to Qualicum Beach town council, urging action to expand seniors care capacity.

Carol Dowe, who organized the petition effort, said many caregivers in the region are at a breaking point.

“People have to wait six months to two years depending on their diagnosis,” Dowe said, referring to long-term care placements. “Caregivers also have to wait at least six months to get any respite.”

Respite care provides temporary placement in a facility for seniors with complex needs, allowing caregivers a short break from the often round-the-clock support they provide at home.

A region shaped by age

The Oceanside area — which includes parts of the Nanaimo Regional District, the Town of Qualicum Beach, and the City of Parksville — has one of the highest proportions of seniors in Canada.

In Qualicum Beach, approximately 56 per cent of residents are aged 65 or older. In Parksville, seniors make up about 46 per cent of the population — among the highest shares in any urban community nationwide.

Health officials say services are available, but capacity remains limited.

In a written statement, Island Health said there are currently three respite care beds in the Oceanside region, which can be booked in one-week blocks up to six months in advance.

“Wait times vary based on individual care needs and demand for respite fluctuates depending on the season,” the health authority said. During higher-demand months in spring and summer, families may need to plan bookings months ahead.

Island Health also noted that caregivers can seek respite placements in nearby communities such as Nanaimo.

To address longer-term pressures, the health authority said it is preparing to open a new seniors facility in Lantzville, approximately 35 kilometres from Qualicum Beach, adding 306 long-term care beds. Another facility is planned for Campbell River, roughly 110 kilometres north.

‘Right now is when we need help’

For caregivers like Terry Champagne, those options feel distant — both geographically and in timing.

Champagne told council she is the sole caregiver for her 94-year-old mother, who has complex health needs.

“I have had one nervous breakdown, and I expect this will not be the last one,” she said. “I worry what will happen if mom is waiting for years for a nursing home facility, and I’m thoroughly exhausted.”

Dowe echoed that concern, saying help is often sought only after caregivers are already stretched to their limits.

“By the time they make the phone call, they’re already at the edge,” she said. “Right now is when we need help.”

Municipal response

Qualicum Beach Mayor Teunis Westbroek said council appreciates the advocacy effort and recognizes the pressures facing the community.

“It was a very meaningful presentation,” he said, noting that the region’s demographics make seniors care a critical issue.

While Westbroek said he believes Qualicum Beach has adequate long-term care beds overall, he suggested that smaller, community-based facilities in rural areas could ease pressure on existing services and allow seniors to remain closer to home.

For caregivers in Oceanside, the petition represents a call for urgency — one rooted in the daily realities of caring for an aging population in a community where seniors make up the majority.