Close X
Thursday, December 12, 2024
ADVT 
National

B.C. falls behind in meeting needs of seniors as population grows, says advocate

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 11 Dec, 2024 02:45 PM
  • B.C. falls behind in meeting needs of seniors as population grows, says advocate

British Columbia's seniors advocate says the province is falling behind in meeting the basic needs of its older residents.

Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt says in a report that despite some investments in services for seniors, there are troubling statistics surrounding health care, long-term care, home care, housing, transportation and community services.

While there are some positives in the report, such as seniors living longer and staying healthy longer, he says the numbers tell a story of a system failing to meet seniors' needs.

He says the concerns mount as the number of seniors in B.C. grows, rising 45 per cent in the last decade to more than a million people, with forecasts that a quarter of the provincial population will be over 65 years old by 2035.

Levitt says the report shows wait-lists for knee and hip replacements for seniors have increased by more than 50 per cent in the last five years. 

Almost 6,500 seniors were waiting for publicly subsidized long-term care beds in the last year, which he says is an increase of 250 per cent over the last five years.

MORE National ARTICLES

Police arrest suspect in Calgary arson and extortion investigation

Police arrest suspect in Calgary arson and extortion investigation
Police in Calgary say they have made an arrest in an arson and extortion investigation. A fire last month caused minor damage to a house in the Hillhurst neighbourhood northwest of downtown.

Police arrest suspect in Calgary arson and extortion investigation

Creative Taylor Swift fans craft ways around bracelet rules for Vancouver shows

Creative Taylor Swift fans craft ways around bracelet rules for Vancouver shows
When BC Place stadium announced a ban on loose objects and large bags for Taylor Swift's upcoming shows in Vancouver, it put some Swifties in a bind — what to do with the hundreds of friendship bracelets that are traditionally swapped at the superstar's shows? That has forced fans, including Christina Bates, from Nashville, Tenn., to get creative. 

Creative Taylor Swift fans craft ways around bracelet rules for Vancouver shows

Trudeau, ministers and opposition leaders address AFN gathering in Ottawa

Trudeau, ministers and opposition leaders address AFN gathering in Ottawa
Trudeau was addressing the Assembly of First Nations gathering in Ottawa this morning, two days after the chiefs passed a resolution calling for an inquiry into policing and police-related deaths. That resolution came after nine First Nations people were killed in less than four weeks in August and September.

Trudeau, ministers and opposition leaders address AFN gathering in Ottawa

Air Canada to bar carry-on bags for its lowest-fare customers

Air Canada to bar carry-on bags for its lowest-fare customers
Starting early next month, Air Canada will bar carry-on bags for its lowest-fare customers. Canada's largest airline says passengers who opt for its basic fare on trips within North America and to sun destinations will have to check any duffel bags, rollers and large backpacks for a fee.

Air Canada to bar carry-on bags for its lowest-fare customers

Canadians to spend $801 more on food in 2025 as climate, Trump affect prices: report

Canadians to spend $801 more on food in 2025 as climate, Trump affect prices: report
A new report says a Canadian family of four can expect to spend up to $801 more on food in 2025 than they did this year. The report by experts at four Canadian universities says food prices are likely to rise between three and five per cent next year. 

Canadians to spend $801 more on food in 2025 as climate, Trump affect prices: report

Ottawa outlines $2B in spending for artificial intelligence computing power

Ottawa outlines $2B in spending for artificial intelligence computing power
The federal government says it will spend up to $1 billion to build public computing infrastructure for the Canadian artificial intelligence sector, part of a $2 billion commitment outlined in this spring’s federal budget. A government official not authorized to speak publicly on the issue says that supercomputing infrastructure will be made available to businesses and researchers across Canada. 

Ottawa outlines $2B in spending for artificial intelligence computing power