Isobel Mackenzie is the Seniors Advocate for BC. She gave a presentation to the Town Hall for Delta Seniors, November 10, 2016, providing a status update on seniors’ issues, demographics and results of the work of the Office of Seniors Advocate (OSA).
BC Seniors Demographics
There are currently 850,000 seniors in B.C. (17% of population), projected to grow to 24% by 2031. This table shows some indicators for people over 65 and over 85 years of age.
| Indicators | Over 65 | Over 85 |
| Median income | $26,000 | $22,000 (75+) |
| Senior homeowners household income | 24% <$30,000 | |
| Senior renters household income | 35% <$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 | 21.55 | 7.1 |
| % Living in Urban Areas | 65% | 65% |
| % of Seniors with Active Driver’s Licenses | 76% | 34% |
| % that Live Alone (under 65: 8%) | 26% | 46% |
| % that are Employed (under 65: 68%) | 24.6% (65-69) | 6.7% (70+) |
| % of Seniors Living Without a Diagnosis of
Dementia |
95% | 80% |
Issues Facing Seniors
- Supports for Independent Living
- adequate income
- home supports (ADL and IADL)
- transportation
- socialization
- Coordination of Services
- Quality of care in residential care
- Support for caregivers
- Polypharmacy
- Ageism (including within the medical community)
Work of Office of the Seniors Advocate (OSA)
- Formed COA – submission to Hon. Jean-Yves Duclos
- Reports and Recommendations
- Housing
- Caregiving
- Income supports
- Quality indicators in residential care
- Awareness of programs
- Home support satisfaction
- Monitor basket of seniors’ services
- Directory of residential care facilities
Results: Work in progress
- Increase to GIS/working to improve GIS/OAS application process
- Review of care hours
- Changes to CCALA
- Increases to MSP Premium Assistance
- Changes to govt. websites
- Select quality indicators showing improvement
- Massive volunteer mobilization for residential care survey
- Seniors’ housing in rural BC
Results: On-going
- Continue to push quality indicators in residential care
- Improvements to home support
- Transportation issues being reviewed
- Social engagement
- Fighting ageism
Contact
www.seniorsadvocatebc.ca
Toll-free: 1-877-952-3181
In Victoria: 250-952-3181
Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm
Translation services available in more than 180 languages.
Email: info@seniorsadvocatebc.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/SeniorsAdvocateBC
Twitter: @SrsAdvocateBC