Long-Term Care Resident and Visitor Survey results released

On November 16, 2023, the Office of the Seniors Advocate released Every Voice Counts: Long-Term Care Resident and Visitor Survey Results – 2023, a report on the experiences of people living in B.C.’s publicly subsidized long-term care sector and their families. The survey captured responses from 10,872 residents and 7,880 frequent visitors in 297 publicly-subsidized long-term care homes across B.C. The report follows a 2016-17 report of the same name, and compares findings to the previous survey. Results showed progress in some areas, including satisfaction with the overall quality of care, alongside a need for more to be done.

The Office of the Seniors Advocate made several recommendations on the findings, including related to increasing staffing levels, mandatory professional education and improvement of community-based services, in particular home support. The Alzheimer Society of B.C. supports these objectives and works closely with care home operators across the province to offer staff training on person-centred dementia care, along with providing education and support to anyone affected by dementia.

Accessing long-term care remains a challenge for people living with dementia. As the number of people affected by dementia in B.C. continues to grow from more than 85,000 at present, to an estimated 250,000 by 2050, so too will the need for more long-term care spaces.

“New long-term care spaces must also meet the diverse personal and cultural needs of people living with dementia,” said Jennifer Lyle, CEO of the Alzheimer Society of B.C. “A significant financial investment is needed to create more long-term care spaces and reduce wait times, in addition to improving the community-based services people depend on.”