Mary Polak, CEO of the BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA), expressed concern over the upcoming cessation of provincial funding for overtime and agency staffing in long-term care and assisted living facilities, beginning October 31. Polak emphasized the reliance on these resources to maintain adequate staffing levels round-the-clock to meet health authority standards.
The BCCPA, representing private-pay home health operators, raised objections to the government’s decision, highlighting the potential challenges operators in various communities may face in upholding quality care without financial support for overtime and agency staffing. Public institutions are set to remain unaffected by the funding cuts.
The Ministry of Health attributed the discontinuation of funding to the winding down of temporary COVID-19 relief measures, initiated in response to the pandemic. Despite improvements post-pandemic, Polak noted lingering impacts on the healthcare sector, stressing the adverse effects the funding cuts could have on long-term care spaces for seniors and discharge processes from hospitals.
Furthermore, the BCCPA warned of potential job losses within care communities and urged a halt to public construction projects for long-term care, proposing a cost-effective alternative for building necessary infrastructure. The Ministry of Health assured ongoing support for long-term care and assisted living facilities, pledging to enhance the healthcare workforce vital for these settings.