BC and Ottawa unveil funding to enhance senior care services
British Columbia and Ottawa have jointly announced a substantial investment of $733m in new federal funding over the forthcoming five years, aimed at bolstering health care for the province’s seniors.
As per The Canadian Press, this collaborative initiative is designed to “expand home and community care, improve access to palliative and end-of-life services and improve the quality of long-term care.”
In the wake of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacted seniors, BC Health Minister Adrian Dix, alongside Canada Health Minister Mark Holland, revealed the funding details in Vancouver.
This announcement not only signifies a partnership between the two governments but also marks the second major bilateral health funding deal in a span of four months, showcasing a continued commitment to enhancing health care services.
Further building on a $1.2bn bilateral agreement from October, which focused on the advancement of health information management and the integration of internationally educated health professionals, this new funding aims to address the growing health care needs of an aging population.
Dix emphasized the necessity of the agreement, stating that there has been a "significant increase of elderly seniors in the province" and the new funding is reflective of "the needs of a changing society."
Highlighting the urgency and importance of this initiative, Dix remarked, “As BC’s seniors’ population grows rapidly and in some communities at an unprecedented rate, so does the demand for health-care services.”
He further elaborated on the goals of the funding, aiming to “bolster BC’s investments to meet that need in the short and long term by improving access to high-quality, safe, dignified home and community care, palliative and end-of-life care as well as long-term care services for seniors and their families.”
The Canadian Press
