Terry Lake is the CEO of the BC Care Providers Association (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

LONG-TERM CARE

CEO of BC Care Providers Association says province needs more beds, not just facility replacements

Oct 1, 2020 | 5:00 PM

KAMLOOPS — The COVID-19 pandemic has uncovered some of the vulnerabilities in long-term care facilities, which are aging — just like the population.

NDP leader John Horgan is promising $1.4 billion over the next decade to eliminate mulit-room facilities within care homes.

“I believe seniors in their latter years should have the dignity of one room with just them in it,” he promised on the campaign trail Wednesday. “That’s a goal we’re going to set.”

Terry Lake, the former B.C. Health Minister and the current CEO of the BC Care Providers Association, says the $1.4 billion will cover some of the facility replacements but won’t add any beds.

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“There are now more people over 65 then under 14 through Canada, and it’s certainly exaggerated in B.C. where we have an even older population, so we need additional beds, not just replacing the older stock in the health authorities,” said Lake. Lake points to Gemstone in Brocklehurst as one example of how the private sector, in addition to government, can create more spaces. He is hopeful about the province’s request for proposal on 400 new beds in the Interior, including 100 in Kamloops. He believes projects need to happen sooner than later as B.C. deals with an ever-growing population. “Obviously that 400 RFP in the Interior will still go forward. That has to happen as soon as possible, but we need to get started on these things,” Lake said. “We will be depending on Overlanders and other facilities like that for a while, but they are coming to their end-of-life, so we’ve got to get at these things pretty fast.” Lake says those facilities have to be staffed properly as well to provide the necessary care being promised by the NDP. He notes Thompson Rivers University can play a role in filling those positions. “TRU teaches health-care aids and it’s a great career. You can ladder up to be an LPN and make a very good living doing work that is invaluable.” As part of his 10-year plan, Horgan is also promising a wage increase for long-term care workers.