A Call to Action for Rural Families in B.C. Facing Long-Term Care Challenges. Please Share Across Your Networks and Communities.
If you are a caregiver in a rural community, you know that accessing quality long-term care close to home is not always a given. Many rural areas across British Columbia do not have local long-term care (LTC) facilities like urban centers do. As a result, family caregivers often face the difficult decision of sending a loved one away from the community they know and cherish, or coping with extended waitlists and travel challenges while managing the emotional and physical demands of caregiving.
Why Your Experience Matters
The Office of the Seniors Advocate is committed to understanding and addressing the real-life challenges that family caregivers face when accessing publicly funded long-term care in B.C. This effort is not just about statistics; it is about the lived experiences of those who are the heart of our rural communities. Whether your loved one is currently waitlisted for a long-term care bed or was placed in care within the past year, your story is important. It can help illustrate
- How long waitlists and limited local options impact your family and community.
- The emotional toll of placing a loved one in care far from home.
- The unique challenges rural communities face when local LTC options are unavailable.
How Your Input Can Drive Change
The survey launched by the Office of the Seniors Advocate aims to capture these unique challenges. Your responses will help create a clearer picture of the supply and demand issues in long-term care across the province. By sharing your experience, you are not only voicing your personal challenges but also contributing to a broader review that could influence future policies and support systems for seniors and their families.
This is a call to all rural caregivers. Your insights can help drive changes that improve the accessibility and quality of long-term care services, ensuring that future generations of rural families have more options closer to home.
Take Action Today
If you have supported a family member or friend who
- is currently waitlisted for a publicly funded long-term care bed, or
- was waitlisted and has been admitted to long-term care in the past year,
please take a few minutes to complete this short online survey. Your participation is completely anonymous, and your feedback will directly contribute to understanding and addressing long-term care challenges across British Columbia.
Survey Link: Take the Online Survey
Survey Period: February 11 to March 4, 2025
If you have any questions or need to take the survey in another format, please reach out directly to the Office of the Seniors Advocate at info@seniorsadvocatebc.ca or call 1-877-952-3181.
Let us work together to ensure that rural voices are heard and that every family caregiver in B.C. receives the support they need. Your story matters. Help drive change in long-term care today.
