WHEREAS access to community-based care for BCs growing population of seniors is vital to keeping seniors healthy in their own homes and communities, and controlling cost pressures on the broader health care system; AND WHEREAS BCs Ombudsperson is nearing completion of an investigation into systemic issues in seniors care, and a number of independent reports and studies including from the BC Medical Association and the UBC Centre for Health Services and Policy Research document problems in timely access to appropriate care and inadequate coordination of services: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM urge the provincial government to significantly enhance BCs system of community-based seniors care, in order to ensure timely access to the full range of public services that support seniors to age and die with dignity.
Ministry of Health The Ministry of Health the Ministry is committed to ensuring that people are able to receive the majority of their health services in community settings. To build a flexible, responsive and sustainable health care system to serve the needs of people with chronic health conditions, including seniors, it is important to work collaboratively within each community to ensure housing and health care options are appropriate to the needs of seniors. The Ministrys strategic direction includes implementation of Integrated Primary and Community Care IPCC. This goal is built around attachment to a family physician working with the health care team as well as links to local community services to more effectively meet the needs of British Columbians. IPCC will focus on high needs priority populations across the continuum of both service delivery and patient health status. This initiative is closely associated with the provinces commitment that all British Columbians who choose to will have access to a family physician by 2015. Over the past several years, the health authorities have expanded home health services by introducing many innovative care options, including quick response teams, ambulatory nursing clinics, home monitoring, and integrating health networks to better link primary care physicians with home health teams. The Ministry continues to work with the health authorities, the BC Medical Association and community groups to expand on this work. Additionally, on February 1, 2010, the Government of BC introduced a more equitable rate structure to reduce the burden on low-income seniors and support ongoing improvements to the residential care system, ensuring residential care remains sustainable and accessible to all British Columbians. The health authorities are required to use the increased revenue raised to directly improve residential care, which may include: increased staffing levels for nursing and other health professional services, education for staff, investment in specialized services for distinct populations such as dementia and palliative care, and the amount of one-on-one care provided to clients. Each health authority will take a different approach to these investments based on prior investments and the unique issues in their region. However, all incremental revenue, estimated by health authorities at 78 million, is being invested to directly improve the care of clients within the residential care system. BCs minimum room and board rates are among the lowest in Canada. Ministry funding to health authorities has increased steadily since 200102 and is reflected in health authority spending in home and community care from 1.57 billion in 200102 to 2.4 billion in 201011, almost 54 percent. Last year alone health authorities increased spending for residential care by 45 million.