Lionsview Seniors Planning Society North Vancouver www seniorsadvocatebc

Lionsview Seniors Planning Society North Vancouver www. seniorsadvocatebc. ca 1 -877 -952 -3181 May 16 th, 2017

Legislative Mandate & Scope Monitors the provision of seniors’ services Analyzes systemic issues Provides information and referral to seniors and their family members Reports to Minister and to the public on issues affecting seniors, and provides recommendations to the Minister and other service providers 2 5 mandated areas • Health care • Housing • Income support • Personal Support • Transportation

Who are seniors and what do they want? Easy question to ask, difficult to answer

Seniors not all the same “Jane” “Anne”

Stereotypes of seniors

Some Common Perceptions of Seniors Silver Tsunami Overrunning emergency departments All going to end up in nursing homes All going to develop dementia “The” problem dominating health care system Financially secure

B. C. Seniors - Reality 850, 000 seniors in B. C. (18% of population), projected to grow to 24% by 2031 Indicators Median income Over 65 Over 85 $26, 800 $24, 600 Senior homeowners household income 24% (163, 000) <$30, 000 Senior renters household income 35% (60, 000) <$20, 000 % Living Independently 93% 74% % Living in Residential Care 4% 15% % that Use Publicly Subsidized Home Support 4% 13% Use of Emergency Department 22% Average Life Expectancy 21. 6 7. 1 % Living in Urban Areas 65% % of Seniors with Active Driver’s Licences 76% 34% % that Live Alone 26% 46% 26% (65 -69) 7% (70+) 40% (65 -74) avg. 235 hrs per year 31% (75+) avg. 198 hrs per year 94% 80% % that are Employed % that Volunteer % of Seniors Living Without a Diagnosis of Dementia

BC Seniors – Living Longer BC Life expectancy - 83 years Canada – 82. 2 U. S – 79. 3 Sweden – 81. 7 U. K. – 81. 2

What We’ve Heard Seniors concerned they may not be able to live where they want Fixed and diminishing incomes Poor transportation alternatives Inconsistent home care services Reduced access to residential care beds Caregiver burnout Devaluation of seniors by an ageist society Seniors lack respect to make decisions Fragmented care system overall

Targeted Issues To Date - Housing Access to affordable housing for low income seniors Rents ↑ 34% since 2005/ rent subsidy ↑ by only 9% Subsidized Housing – long wait lists, more units needed particularly in rural/remote areas Use of Property tax deferment ↑ Home owners need new mechanisms to leverage home equity for housing costs

Targeted Issues to Date - Caregivers 97% of home support clients have an unpaid caregiver 29% of caregivers are in distress, one of the highest rates in Canada Rate of distress increases to 38% for those caring for the more complex Access to respite services such as home support; ADP and respite beds limited to <15%, home support used by <50% in previous week

Targeted Issues to Date – Residential Care staffing • 91% of facilities not meeting provincial guidelines • $500 m announcement will ensure standardized benchmark, means 3 million more care hours per year Drug use • 26% taking antipsychotics without a diagnosis, dropping, but still one of highest rates in Canada • 48% taking antidepressants while only 24% have diagnosis of depression Resident to resident aggression Adequacy of some policies such as 1 x weekly bath

Targeted Issues To Date – Home Support Availability of adequate levels of home support 60% of clients receive one hour or less per day Increase in clients, but decrease in hours per client Variation between health authorities Not enough flexibility 20% say too many regular workers & 28% say too many substitute workers System too rigid in what it delivers Clients want ability to choose service required Cost a barrier for some seniors

Targeted Issues To Date – Transportation OSA Handy. DART survey of 7, 500 Handy. DART users • 91% satisfied with service, when they receive it, yet nearly 1/3 say it does not, or only moderately meets, transportation needs • wait times and length of ride times an issue – only 46% always picked up within 30 -minute window • cost an issue for some seniors – 53% of users have income of less than $20, 000 Encouraging municipalities to ensure senior pedestrians are safe – decreased speed limits, road/intersection design/visibility Full systemic review of transportation issues underway

Key OSA Resources Monitoring Report BC Residential Care Facilities Quick Facts Directory OSA website – www. seniorsadvocatebc. ca Information and referral line – 1. 877. 952. 3181 Council of Advisors Systemic Reviews

Contact www. seniorsadvocatebc. ca Toll-free: 1 -877 -952 -3181 In Victoria: 250 -952 -3181 Open Monday to Friday, 8: 30 am - 4: 30 pm Translation services available in more than 180 languages. info@seniorsadvocatebc. ca facebook. com/Seniors. Advocate. BC @Srs. Advocate. BC