From Shortfall to Crisis: Growing Demand for Long-Term Care Beds in B.C.
The Seniors Advocate is calling on the Province to address the increasing shortfall in long-term care bed supply. This systemic review reveals B.C. is not prepared to care for the most vulnerable seniors today or in the future due to the ongoing, increasing shortage of long-term care beds.
Over the past ten years, the waitlist for long-term care in B.C. has ballooned. Between 2016 and 2025, the number of people waiting to be admitted to long-term care rose from 2,381 to 7,212, an increase of 200%. The provincial average wait time has grown by 98% over the past eight years, from 146 days in 2018, the first year data was collected, to 290 days in 2025.
The report has six recommendations to government:
- Expand long-term care capacity: Update and extend the Long-Term Care Bed Expansion Plan, with funding commitments beyond 2030/31, to meet growing demand and reduce wait times.
- Improve access to community-based supports: Remove financial barriers to the provincial home support program and increase access to adult day programs and respite care, to help seniors remain at home longer and reduce demand for long-term care.
- Improve supports for people on the waitlist for long-term care: Establish a consistent, transparent process to help seniors and families navigate the system, expand access to essential supports and eliminate home support client contributions for those waiting for publicly-subsidized long-term care.
- Expand seniors’ housing options: Develop a comprehensive plan to increase access to a wider range of publicly-subsidized housing options for seniors.
- Improve waitlist management: Conduct a comprehensive review of long-term care waitlist policies and practices and establish wait time targets.
- Develop an action plan: Set out clear timelines and deliverables to address the report’s findings and recommendations, with annual progress updates. Submit the plan to the B.C. Seniors Advocate by October 1, 2025.