Vancouver Coastal Health Launches Small Care Homes to Address Long-Term Care Waitlists

Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) is implementing a new model for long-term care designed to alleviate growing waitlists. This initiative aims to convert regular homes in neighborhoods into licensed care facilities catering to seniors.

Overview of Small Care Homes

VCH plans to purchase existing houses for retrofitting as small care homes. Each home will accommodate up to ten residents, providing private rooms and shared community spaces such as kitchens and living rooms. Residents will benefit from 24/7 clinical care.

Objectives and Benefits

• Enhance dignity and connection among residents.
• Bridge the gap between independent living and full-time care.
• Provide a supportive environment for seniors with conditions like Alzheimer’s.

Health Minister Josie Osborne emphasized the importance of this model in complementing the care continuum for seniors. According to Yasmin Jetha, VCH’s vice-president of community services, evidence suggests that a home-like atmosphere is crucial for optimal senior care.

Collaboration and Community Impact

In collaboration with B.C. Housing and local authorities in Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Richmond, VCH is actively pursuing homes suited for this initiative. Laura Tamblyn Watts, CEO of CanAge, noted that this approach could mitigate high staff turnover rates prevalent in long-term care. She indicated that caring roles within large facilities tend to lead to burnout.

Addressing Long-Term Care Demand

According to B.C. Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt, the province faces a critical need for nearly 16,000 additional long-term care beds by 2036. The demand surge is attributable to the aging baby boomer demographic, compounded by insufficient provincial investment in care facilities.

• Wait times for publicly funded long-term care have increased by over 200% since 2016.
• The average wait for seniors has stretched to nearly ten months.

While the introduction of small care homes is seen as a positive development, some advocates caution that it doesn’t sufficiently address the broader capacity issue. Tamblyn Watts mentioned that supporting existing long-term care facilities is essential for creating a comprehensive solution.

Future Developments

Vancouver Coastal Health anticipates the launch of the first three small care homes in spring 2026, with an ultimate goal of establishing about 200 beds by 2029. These steps are vital in improving long-term care options for seniors, but experts warn that systemic changes are necessary to meet the increasing demands of the aging population in British Columbia.