B.C. Long-Term Care Demand Outpaces Capacity, Seniors Advocate Report Reveals
Recent findings from British Columbia’s seniors advocate highlight a significant shortfall in long-term care beds across the province. The demand for these essential services is rising much faster than the available supply, prompting urgent calls for action.
Long-Term Care Demand in B.C.
According to Dan Levitt, the B.C. Seniors Advocate, the growth in demand for long-term care has surged since 2019, while the supply of beds has not kept pace. The newly released 2025 Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Directory presents alarming statistics.
Key Statistics
- Increase in Seniors Population: Seniors aged 65 and over have increased by 19% since 2019.
- Bed Availability: Only a 5% increase in long-term care beds has occurred in the same timeframe.
- Future Needs: An estimated need for 16,000 additional long-term care beds over the next decade.
- New Additions: More than 1,400 beds and six new facilities have opened since 2019.
- Recent Contributions: 513 new beds were added in 2024-2025 across communities like Kamloops, Aldergrove, Victoria, and Prince George.
- Assisted-Living Units: There were seven fewer publicly subsidized assisted-living units last year compared to the year before.
Current Challenges
Levitt emphasizes that waiting lists for long-term care services are rapidly growing. Public home support services remain out of reach for many families, not providing adequate assistance to those receiving care at home.
The Need for Action
Levitt warns that without immediate action, the gap between the growing population of seniors and the available public services will only widen. He expresses concern about the emotional toll on families struggling to care for loved ones. The advocate insists that improvements to the long-term care system are essential for the well-being of B.C.’s seniors.
The situation remains critical, and stakeholders are urged to prioritize the creation of more long-term care beds. Addressing this challenge is imperative for ensuring that the province can meet the needs of its aging population.
