There’s good news and there’s bad news in long-term care on the North Shore. Among the best good news, of course, is that we’ve managed to largely put a stop to COVID-19 outbreaks in care homes that resulted in so much heartbreak.
But COVID also highlighted many other shortcomings in the care we provide our seniors. Among them: many existing facilities are aging and lack the modern designs needed to help contain the spread of illness.
But as some of the oldest care homes reach the end of their days, there aren’t enough new facilities being built to replace them.
Thanks to stratospheric land costs, the problem is being felt most acutely in West Vancouver, where two long-term care homes, Capilano Care Centre and West Vancouver Care Centre, are now in the process of closing. Even with the opening of Creekstone Care Centre in North Vancouver, we are still facing a net loss of 130 publicly funded beds.
While other seniors housing is available for those who are more independent, especially for those who can afford to pay, the number of beds available to those with the greatest needs is shrinking, exactly at a time when demand is expected to grow.
Many baby boomers are only about 10 years from the time when they will need supportive housing and care.
We already condemned one cohort of our elders in care because of our lack of foresight and willingness to invest in their safety and dignity. The grey wave is beginning to crest. Let’s not make the same regrettable mistakes again.
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