Seniors in British Columbia are feeling B次元官网网址渋nvisible and forgottenB次元官网网址� as they fall thorough the cracks in existing provincial support systems, their advocate says.

In his first report as B.C.B次元官网网址檚 seniorB次元官网网址檚 advocate, Dan Levitt says affordability was the top concern during visits with hundreds of seniors in more than 20 communities in April.

One in four seniors in B.C. earn less than $23,000 a year, an amount that falls below the poverty line, Levitt told a news conference on Wednesday.

The report outlines what Levitt heard during his tour, confirming that B.C. seniors on fixed incomes are disproportionately affected by the high cost of living.

It found many seniors are unable to absorb increased costs for housing, food, medical equipment, mobility aids and other necessities for healthy aging.

Levitt said more low-income seniors are at risk of homelessness and many are turning to food banks as they struggle to make ends meet.

The report makes several recommendations for the B.C. government, starting with redesigning the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program.

Levitt said the program is failing to ensure low-income seniors arenB次元官网网址檛 paying more than 30 per cent of their income on housing. The benefit isnB次元官网网址檛 tied to inflation or rent increases, he added.

The report also calls on the province to increase its seniors supplement, currently set at a maximum of $99.30 per month for single seniors, and index it to inflation.

Levitt said seniors also told him they donB次元官网网址檛 have what they need to keep living in their homes for as long as they can. He called on B.C. to eliminate the daily charge for home support, noting that neither Alberta nor Ontario have such a fee.

Levitt expressed further concern about a shortage of long-term care and assisted-living beds, saying people are spending thousands of dollars and travelling long distances to visit loved ones who have moved away to receive care.

The challenges will only persist as B.C.B次元官网网址檚 population ages, he said.

Seniors are the fastest-growing age group in the province, and by 2036 they will make up 25 per cent of the population, he said.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e generally healthier and living longer. More people will be over 65 in the next decade (than) any other time in our history.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 good news, but the question is, are we prepared?B次元官网网址�

Levitt said the short answer is B次元官网网址渘o.B次元官网网址�

He said demand for long-term care and other services for seniors will grow B次元官网网址渆xponentiallyB次元官网网址� in the coming decade.

His office will undertake what he described as a B次元官网网址渟ystemic reviewB次元官网网址� of wait lists for long-term care and assisted living facilities.

B次元官网网址淲e want to see much more infrastructure being built where seniors live,B次元官网网址� he said.

The report released Wednesday further recommends that B.C. provide the $300 shingles vaccine at no cost for seniors, while developing a cross-ministry strategy to support seniors with key targets and performance measures.

Levitt said funding the vaccine and eliminating the home-care fee are steps B.C. could take immediately, while starting work on the long-term recommendations.

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