Whereas the demographic of those over 65 continues to increase across British Columbia; And whereas increasing numbers of seniors experience financial, social, health and housing vulnerabilities; And whereas services for seniors are provided by a variety of local ministries, agencies and governments: Therefore be it resolved that the provincial government be requested to plan system-wide initiatives to support seniors healthy, stable and successful aging to limit social isolation, varieties of abuse and limited access to needed housing.
Ministry of Health The Province funds the Age-friendly Communities grant program for local governments in BC to develop policies or plans or projects that enable seniors to age in place, and facilitate the creation of age-friendly communities. The province is providing 500,000 for the 2018 Age-friendly Communities Grant program, to enable local governments to work on age-friendly assessments, action plans and projects. Local governments can apply for Stream 1 planning grants up to 25,000 or Stream 2 project grants up to 15,000. A local government must have recently completed an assessment or action plan before it can apply for a project grant. The BC Government announced a total of 548 million over three years to the Ministry of Health in Budget 2018 to improve care for seniors including investments in home and community care, residential care, and assisted living. Approximately 28,000 people live in residential care facilities. The Office of the Seniors Advocate indicated that 85 percent of the provinces residential care facilities were operating below 3.36 direct care hours worked per resident day HPRD. The Ministry of Health the Ministry has committed to ensuring that each Health Authority provides an average of 3.36 direct care hours per resident day. The additional care hours will provide for more interaction between care staff and residents, resulting in more social engagement and a better quality of life. The Ministry, in partnership with the federal government, is investing 275 million over four years toward improving home care and home support, to enable seniors to live independently in the comfort and familiarity of their own homes, and remain connected to their communities for as long as possible. As of April 1, 2018, the government has restored the 100 percent seniors discount on ferry fares from Monday to Thursday that will make it more affordable for seniors to remain connected to their loved ones and their communities. Federal, provincial and territorial FPT governments work together through the FPT Ministers Responsible for Seniors Forum to support in meaningful ways present and future generations of older Canadians. The Ministry is a participant on the FPT Seniors Forum. The FPT Ministers Responsible for Seniors have developed the Social Isolation of Seniors Toolkit to support BCs priority to promote seniors health and well-being, and to help seniors remain living at home in their community for as long as possible. Social isolation and exclusion is related to serious negative health effects, elder abuse, and reduced quality of life for seniors. BC is committed to exploring opportunities for the dissemination and use of the Toolkit and Supplements. FPT Ministers have directed officials to do further work to respond to the social inclusion needs of three specific sub-populations that may be at high risk of being socially isolated, namely: recent immigrant and refugees; LGBTQ Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Two-spirited, Intersex or QueerQuestioning Individuals; and Indigenous seniors. This work is expected to be completed by spring 2018. The FPT work on social inclusion of seniors complements other provincial initiatives to support seniors, such as Age-friendly BC, and Aging Well, a healthy aging resource on HealthyFamiliesBC.ca that includes promotion of staying connected. The Province also acts to prevent seniors from becoming socially isolated by providing simple, non-medical home support services through the Better at Home program managed by the United Way. Better at Home services help seniors remain independent in their own homes, and keep them connected to their communities for as long as possible. Better at Home services may include light housekeeping, yard work, snow shoveling, grocery shopping, minor home repairs, transportation services and friendly visiting. Services are provided by local non-profit organizations and delivered by a mix of volunteers, contractors and paid staff. Sixty-nine Better at Home program sites are operating in communities across BC; many serve more than one community; four of these communities are on First Nations Reserves. As of September 2017, Better at Home had delivered nearly 500,000 services, and more than 22,000 seniors and elders were enrolled. The Provinces approach to addressing elder abuse is one of multi-sector collaboration, awareness and engagement building, training and inspiring the public to take action to reduce elder abuse, and affect a societal change in attitudes. The Council to Reduce Elder Abuse CREA, was established in 2013 to facilitate multi sector collaboration in addressing elder abuse, and to galvanize society to commit to taking action to prevent elder abuse. The Ministry has undertaken a range of elder abuse prevention activities including: o Provided 4.7 million to the BC Association of Community Response Networks in 157 communities, including 650,000 for community-based initiatives to build awareness, enhance training, and improve response to elder abuse; o The Provincial Health Services Authority provided 850,000 in 201213 to the BC Centre for Elder Advocacy and Support to expand the capacity and hours of its Seniors Abuse and Information Line SAIL; and o In 201617, the Ministry provided 250,000 to Seniors First BC to support services related to the Council to Reduce Elder Abuse 50,000, and to operate the SAIL 200,000, a help line for victims of elder abuse and those close to them. Beginning in 2006, proclaimed World Elder Abuse Awareness Day annually on June 15: o Provided digital signage in 62 ServiceBC offices around the province; o Developed and distributed 31,000 Elder Abuse Prevention Information kits in English, French, Punjabi and Traditional Chinese digital versions available at SeniorsBC.ca; o Expanded the elder abuse resources available on the Seniorsbc.ca website; o Updated the Elder Abuse Prevention Series on the HealthLinkbc.ca website; o Developed an online interactive course for caregivers and service-providers on recognizing, preventing and responding to the abuse of adults; and o Implementing consistent, province-wide procedures for consent to care facility admission. The Ministry of Justice provides programs and services for victims of elder abuse e.g., VictimLink BC helpline; Understanding and Responding to Elder Abuse E-Book and a webinar for support workers; information resources in multiple languages, and website; is responsible for some of the relevant legislation e.g., Adult Guardianship Act; and, through the Public Guardian and Trustee, protects adults from legal, financial and personal care abuse. The Ministry of Advanced Education has developed publicly accessible training for practitioners in the health, legal, financial and social services. The Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters SAFER program is expanding eligibility, and increasing benefits for the seniors rental support program. The Government is investing 58 million over three years to the SAFER program. Effective September 2018, on average, approximately 22,000 seniors will receive an extra 930 per year. The Government has committed to build, directly and through partnerships, 114,000 rental, social and co-op homes over 10 years to help address the gap in suitable and affordable housing for seniors. BC Housings Seniors Supportive Housing Program provides housing and support services to older adults, seniors and people with disabilities. The Program assists low-income British Columbians who are 55 years of age or older, and people of any age who have a disability or diminished ability. The programs modified apartment units are designed for people who can live independently with some assistance, but who are not eligible for assisted living or a greater level of care.