A report from B.C.'s Seniors Advocate Isobel Mackenzie finds most seniors in the province's residential care facilities feel safe, treated with respect and get the services they need, but almost as many say the homes don't feel like a home. The survey also reveals staff shortages are the common thread behind many of the concerns raised by seniors in interviews, including regulated activity, meal, bath, toilet and sleep times. Survey findings include:
- Half of residents rated the overall quality of the care home as very good or excellent with 83% of residents believing the staff know what they're doing;
- Almost 90% of family members report being involved in decisions about the care of their loved one;
- More than one-third of residents report they're not consistently getting the help they need at mealtimes;
- More than 45% report there's no one living in the facility that they consider a close friend and 45% report there is no one for them to do things with;
- Forty percent of residents living in residential care do not want to be there; and
- Only 57% of residents report that the care facility regularly feels like home.
Health Minister Adrian Dix said he's been mandated by Premier John Horgan to increase staffing levels to ensure seniors in B.C.'s public and private residential care facilities receive 3.36 hours of individual care daily.
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