Seniors

Does BC need a UK-style Minister of Loneliness?

Mar 28, 2018

A British Cabinet Minister, Tracey Crouch, has been given the task of coming up with a national strategy to combat an epidemic of loneliness in the UK. Loneliness is a health problem around the world, and British Columbia is no exception. Social isolation is increasing here and across our country. SFU’s Director of Gerontology, Andrew Wister, notes… View Article

Three health care priorities for a new government

Jul 27, 2017

By Andrew Longhurst

The transition to power for a new government in BC provides the opportunity to set a new course that addresses both immediate and longstanding policy challenges. On the health care front, there is no shortage of pressing issues facing the new government. It is reassuring, however, that one of the foundational principles of the NDP… View Article

Economic insecurity touches seniors’ lives in profound ways

Apr 6, 2017

By Terra Poirier, Iglika Ivanova and Caelie Frampton

In the spring of 2016, the CCPA’s Terra Poirier and photographer Caelie Frampton met with three local seniors to document their lived experience of poverty and inequality. The images and stories of these women paint a sobering picture of what life is like when the hardships of living with a low income are combined with… View Article

Low-income seniors also victim to affordable housing crisis

Nov 22, 2016

By Sarah Sheridan

It may be hard to believe, but Statistics Canada data shows that 52 per cent of senior renters (65+) in Metro Vancouver spend 30 per cent or more of their monthly income on rent, and 21 per cent spend half or more. So how are low-income seniors expected to survive? The ratio of rent to… View Article

For-profit care of seniors proven to be inferior

Oct 11, 2016

By Dr. Margaret McGregor and Lisa Ronald

Vancouver Coastal Health recently announced it will close two publicly owned and operated residential care facilities in Sechelt. The creation of 600 new beds will be contracted to private for-profit facilities. The decision to go with private for-profit beds contradicts the scientific evidence about ownership and residential care quality. We reviewed the link between ownership… View Article

BC has every reason to back CPP enhancement

Jun 20, 2016

By Alex Hemingway

Christy Clark could be a critical swing vote in shaping the future of the Canada Pension Plan, as federal officials meet with provincial premiers in Vancouver on Monday. If a stable, secure retirement for all Canadians is the aim, our leaders should commit to boldly expanding this bedrock national pension program. Instead, BC’s provincial government… View Article

Spotlight on health care austerity: seniors’ residential care

Oct 30, 2015

By Marc Lee

Let’s break down changes in health care spending by age group. You might think that as overall health care spending in BC has gone up, we would see bigger jumps for those over age 65. But this is not the case – indeed, quite the opposite. This figure shows the change in health care spending per… View Article

Austerity comes to BC’s health care system

Oct 29, 2015

By Marc Lee

For many years, BC’s health care system escaped the austerity imposed on other parts of the public sector. No longer. While total dollars allocated to health care are still increasing somewhat, those increases are not sufficient to keep up with cost drivers in the system, leading to a real reduction in health care services. This needs… View Article

Seniors have major stake in transit referendum: Access to transportation a key factor for health, wellbeing

Mar 17, 2015

By Shannon Daub

By Shannon Daub, Co-Director of the CCPA-BC’s Seniors Project, and Sandra (Sandy) James LEED AP MCIP CCPI, Director, Walk Metro Vancouver Society Between now and May, residents of Metro Vancouver will receive a mail-in ballot asking if they are in favour of a .5 percentage point increase on sales tax to fund transportation improvements in… View Article

Don’t pit generations against each other in transit referendum

Mar 10, 2015