BC Health Coalition - Reports & Studies (Home and Community Care)

Take Action on Home and Community Care!

Click here to write Premier Designate Christy Clark and Health Minister Mike de Jong urging them to make changes to improve the lives of seniors and people with disabilities.

Click here to tell the BC government to reverse penalizing fee increases for residential care.

Click here to tell the BC government to scrap convalescent care fees

Click here to tell the BC government to support family and resident councils! Send a letter to the provincial government letting it know that you are aware of the commitments it has made and that you expect timely and full implementation of the Ombudspersons’ recommendations.

Home and Community Care Resources

BCHC Home and Community Care Campaign Paper now available!

Piecing Together the Continuum of Care: Concerns & Solutions from BC’s Health Care Advocates is a consensus document developed by the BCHC which summarizes concerns, outlines positve solutions and presents key demands from health care advocates across the province.

Click here to dowload (PDF)

Also available in:

Simplified Chinese (PDF)

Click here to view our updated Home and Community Care reports and studies page

Click here to view recent BC Health Coalition Media Releases

Click here to view recent Health Care News Stories

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

A young family, new to Canada and a complicated pregnancy in 1971. To our amazement, I was kept in hospital for 3 weeks at $1 a day!!! and my baby was saved. Medicare, Canada, thank you.
Aphrodite

Canadian Medicare means that my life is worth as much, no more, no less than any other human being, rich or poor. Without it I would have had a very short lived life.
Melanie

Because it means I don't have to worry about "what if". I know that should I need care, it's there for me and my family.
Alice

Because I want to live in a society that cares for all its citizens!
Elspeth

My family has the right to live long healthy lives and not be worried if they can afford to.
Roxanne

I never have to worry about going to my Doctor or a Hospital in Canada. I only have to make sure I get insurance if I have to go the USA
Bob

For six years my husband's medical costs were covered by Medicare. I can never be thankful enough. I will keep fighting for Medicare.
Eileen

Medicare reminds me every day that it is wrong to profit from people who are vulnerable.
Arsalan

Stress, as we all know , is the cause of much illness. Medicare means I have no stress about my health care and the ensuing bills.
Linda

Medicare provides health care equality no matter the financial status everyone qualifies for the care needed.
Bob

It breaks my heart hearing from my friends, young and old, about long suffering, financial hardship and unnecessary death from lack of necessary, rightful health care.
Bjorn

: Campbell River/Courtenay/Comox | Citizens for Quality Health Care | Contact: Rich Hagensen | Email: surfdust AT telus.net
: Castlegar & Area | Castlegar & District Health Watch | Contact: Sally Williams | Email: sally_williams AT telus.net
: Fort St. John | Save Our Northern Seniors | Contact: Jean Leahy | Email: jleahy AT shaw.ca
: Nelson | Nelson Area Society for Health | Contact: Joan Reichardt | Email: jreichardt AT netidea.com
: Kamloops & Area | Kamloops Citizens Concerned About Public Health Care | Contact: Rick Turner | Email: riturner AT shaw.ca | Phone: 250-579-8541
: Kelowna & Area | Okanagan Health Coalition | Contact: Joyce Procure | Email: jprocure AT shaw.ca
: Terrace | Northwest Action Coalition | Contact: Dawna Ottenbreit | (250) 635.4704 | Email: DawnaMarie AT Telus.net
: Victoria & Area | South Island Health Coalition | Contact: Dale Perkins | Email: dperkins AT islandnet.com | Phone: 250 592-5487
: Nanaimo & Area | Mid-Island Health Coalition | Contact: Mitzi Arthur | Email: arthurmep AT hotmail.com
: Cranbrook Concerned Citizens | Contact: Gary Lancaster | Email: lancastergd AT shaw.ca
: Elk Valley & South Country Health Care Coalition | Contact: Barbara Kosiec | Email: pburke AT oldnurse.com | Phone: 250-423-6091 | Website: http://www.evsos.com/

Home

Continuing Care

Reports and Studies

Reports & Studies (Home and Community Care)

For more information about issues relating to seniors and long-term care check out the following reports and studies:

The Best of Care: Getting It Right for Seniors in British Columbia (Part 1). (December 2009). The first part of the BC Office of the Ombudsperson's ongoing systemic investigation on seniors' care that was launched in response to a growing number of complaints and increasing public concerns about the poor care received by seniors and people with disabilities living in residential care facilities in BC.

Summary list of findings and recommnendations.

Residential Long Term Care in Canada: Our Vision for Better Seniors' Care (October 2009). Produced by the Canadian Union of Public Employees, this research paper documents the access and quality problems in residential long-term care, and their causes, urges governments and employers to improve seniors’ care and offers proven solutions.

Numbers used by the provincial government to back it's claims of invesrment in seniors' care don't add up. Claims and Facts About Home and Community Health Care in BC is an April 2009 fact sheet produced by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives that responds to each of the false or innacurate government claims.

An Uncertain Future for Seniors: BC’s Restructuring of Home and Community Health Care 2001-2008 builds on past CCPA studies. This report provides detailed evidence related to concerns raised recently by the BC Auditor General, the BC Medical Association and the BC Care Providers Association about the deteriorating state of seniors’ care in BC. (April 2009).

Innovations in Community Care: From Pilot Project to System Change. This paper highlights positive examples of what is working well in home and community care in British Columbia. BC can boast of a number of local, small-scale initiatives that support people with significant health challenges who continue to live in their homes or in residential care. Many of these people are individuals with low income, frail seniors, and/or people living with a mental or physical disability. By helping them function in the community, these innovations take pressure off in-patient hospital and emergency services. And while they often cost more at the start, over the long term these innovations can reduce costs and improve the health status of those using these services. Published by the CCPA (April 2009).

A Way Forward: Promising Approaches to Abuse Prevention in Institutional Settings is a national project and collaborative effort of the University of Toronto (Institute for Life Course and Aging), working with partners from six universities across Canada, as well as key community and long term care stakeholders. The project's objective was to enhance the capacity of communities across Canada to better understand and respond to the complex issues of abuse and neglect in congregate settings.

Poor quality care has been an enduring feature of many of the 16,500 residential nursing facilities that provide care to 1.6 million people in the United States. This artlcle, entitled Regulating US Nursing Homes: Residential nursing facilities in the United States, by Charlene Harrington, Ph.D., RN. shows how the US government has failed to hold the nursing home industry accountable for how government funds are spent and to protect residents from poor care.

Other reports by Harrington include: Shareholder value and the performance of a large nursing home chain (June 2008) and Trends in nuring home ownership and quality, testimony prepared for the US House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health (November 2007).

This May 2008 Policy Paper by the BC Medical Association entitled Bridging the Islands - Rebuilding BC's Home and Community Health Care System examines British Columbia’s Home and Community Care (HCC) system and argues for greater investment in and integration of different areas of care is necessary to improve the quality of care, manage resources effectively, and meet the needs of our aging population.

For-profit vs. not-for-profit delivery of long term care by Kimberlyn M. McGrail, Margaret J. McGregor, Marcy Cohen et al. published in CMAJ (January 2007).

This study by Margaret J. McGregor, MD, MHSc., entitled Care outcomes in Long-Term Care Facilities in British Columbia - Does Ownership Matter? investigates whether for-profit (FP) versus not-for-profit (NP) ownership of long-term care facilities resulted in a difference in hospital admission and mortality rates among facility residents in British Columbia, and finds that a higher adjusted hospitalization rates in FP versus NP facilities is consistent with previous research from U.S. authors. Published in Medical Care (October 2006).

Continuing Care - Renewal or Retreat? B.C.'s Residential and Home Health Care Restructuring 2001-2004 by Marcy Cohen, Janice Murphy, Kelsey Nutland, Aleck Ostry outlines recent changes to British Columbia’s Home and Community Care (HCC) system. Published by the CCPA (April 2005).

Nursing home profit status and quality care: is there any evidence of an association? by Michael P. Hillmer, Walter P. Wodchis et al. This article critically reviews the association between the profit status of North American nursing homes and the quality of care. Published in Medical Care Research and Review (April 2005).

This article by John F. Schnelle, Sandra F. Simmons et al. entitled Relationship of nursing home staffing to quality of care compares nursing homes (NHs) that report different staffing statistics on quality of care. Published in HSR: Health Services Research (April 2004).