Standing Up for Seniors

BACKGROUNDER 

STANDING UP FOR SENIORS

The NDP government is failing our seniors, leaving them vulnerable to increasing living costs, deteriorating healthcare services, and unsafe conditions. 

B.C. now ranks as the weakest province in Canada when it comes to elder care and support - seniors are being neglected by the Eby NDP that has prioritized pet projects over the well-being of the people who built the province we love.

Seniors in BC now face some of the longest healthcare wait times in the country, insufficient home care support, and are trapped in a housing affordability crisis. Instead of improving the lives of the elderly, the Eby NDP has worsened the situation, contributing to the rising costs of daily living and healthcare, leaving families to pick up the slack. 

The Conservative Party of BC believes senior citizens deserve to live with dignity, care, and protection, and we will stand up for them with renewed commitment. 

Enhancing Home Care Services and Support

Far too many seniors are forced into extended-duration hospital stays, due to a lack of support for home care and a shortage of long-term care beds. Seniors deserve every chance to live in the dignity of their own homes, where they are the happiest and healthiest. 

And if healthcare needs become too great, there must be seamless and timely access to long-term care – not the NDP’s 215-day waitlist. The Conservative Party of BC will:

• Boost tax credits for family caregivers, alongside expanding respite care options and caregiver training programs to reduce burnout and stress.
• Increase funding for home support services, eliminate daily user fees, and address the Better at Home program’s extensive waitlists.
• Expand access to home care as the preferred alternative to long-term care, improving seniors' quality of life while reducing long-term care costs by over $45,000 per senior annually.

Improving Long-Term Care Facilities

Long-term care facilities have suffered under the NDP’s incompetence, with a staggering 136% increase in waitlists for care beds. The NDP has allowed seniors to languish in hospitals or inadequate housing, failing to address basic needs. The Conservative Party of BC will:

• Deliver 5,000 long-term care beds province-wide by 2030.
• Commission an expert review on improving long-term care practices and infrastructure.

Healthcare Access and Support

Under Eby’s NDP, seniors face a broken healthcare system, with over 40% of low-income seniors unable to afford necessary medical treatments or even basic dental care. Many seniors go years without access to affordable vaccines or hearing aids because the NDP has consistently failed to prioritize their health. The Conservative Party of BC will:

• Provide financial assistance for crucial devices such as eyeglasses, mobility aids, and hearing aids to promote senior independence.
• Double the number Seniors’ Community Parks so our elders can stay in shape with age-appropriate outdoor exercise equipment.
• Cover the cost of essential vaccines including shingles and high-dose flu shots – financial circumstances shouldn’t be a barrier to the basics of good health.
• Increase support and streamline care for seniors with dementia through a comprehensive, person-centered care pathway from early diagnosis to advanced stages.
• Eliminate daily hospice care charges to alleviate financial pressure during end-of-life care.

Affordable Housing and Home Adaptations

The BC NDP has allowed a housing crisis to spiral out of control, leaving seniors struggling to afford rent. Programs like SAFER are outdated and have failed to keep up with skyrocketing rents, leading to seniors paying over 60% of their income on housing. The Conservative Party of BC will reform these systems and protect our seniors by:

• Strengthen financial support for seniors who in need by modernizing the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program. Rent and income thresholds will be updated annually to reflect current market conditions and inflation.
• Double the Home Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities to $2,000, to help our elders stay in the home they love.

Transportation for Seniors

Seniors’ transportation needs have been neglected under the NDP. HandyDART services remain inadequate and inconsistent, leaving seniors isolated and unable to reach essential services. The Conservative Party of BC will:

• Expand HandyDART services to areas of greatest need, ensuring seniors have access to affordable, reliable transportation.
• Strictly enforce service quality standards for HandyDART contractors to improve transportation reliability for seniors.

Safety and Protection of Seniors

According to the government’s own Seniors Advocate, the NDP has overseen a shocking 55% rise in violence against seniors, while the prosecution rate has plummeted. Digital fraud and scams are increasingly targeting the elderly, but little is done to protect them. The Conservative Party of BC will:

• Update prosecution guidelines to ensure maximum penalties are sought for violent crime and against children and seniors.
• Increase resources for senior protection initiatives and law enforcement to address the rise in violence against seniors.
• Protect seniors from digital fraud and scams through targeted awareness and education campaigns.

A Fair Deal for Seniors

Eby’s NDP government has failed time and time again to support our seniors, allowing them to bear the brunt of rising living costs, failing healthcare services, and inadequate protections. Too often, our elders have been left without the dignity and care they deserve.

The Conservative Party of BC offers renewed commitments to seniors. 

We will prioritize the wellbeing of seniors through improved healthcare, housing, and safety measures. Seniors deserve to live with dignity, and the Conservative Party of BC will make sure they are cared for, respected, and valued. 

Our commitment is clear: we will stand up for seniors where the current government has failed.