We’ve seen this moment coming for decades. Back in the 1990s and even the 80s, demographers were pointing out that the Baby Boomer generation (born 1946-1964) were set to reach 65 beginning in 2011. With this, we would begin to see an increased demand for pension and health care, accessible housing, long-term care (LTC) beds and home care support.
We passed that 2011 line in the sand 15 years ago. Those 65-year-olds are now 80, requiring even greater health care resources, while the youngest of the Baby Boomer cohort are reaching retirement age. Our health care system should no longer be preparing for the Baby Boomer boom, because we’re right in the thick of it.
With an aging population comes increased stress on our province’s health care network. We need more money, infrastructure and health care professionals to care for those with a growing list of needs and ensure an adequate (or better) quality of life.
In a world of just black and white, with no shades of grey, providing care to a greater percentage of the population means either moving money in the provincial budget out of other line items such as transportation or education to fund health care, or increasing taxes. Both options would be a bitter pill to swallow.
Fortunately, there is another way.
What are the benefits of home health care in British Columbia?
Earlier this summer, David Stokes, co-owner of Kootenay Columbia Home Medical Equipment (KCHME), had the honour of making a presentation to the Select Standing Committee on Finance and Government Services regarding British Columbia’s 2027 provincial budget.
“In the next 10 years, BC will experience one of the largest shifts ever in its demographic makeup: the number of seniors aged 75+ will increase by 50%,” David explained. “This growth is more than three times the rate of growth in the province overall.
“Why is this so important? This group requires disproportionately more hospital services, long-term care homes, and home support services.
“In order to keep pace with growing demand, BC would need to build 17,000 new long-term care beds in the next 10 years. At the same time, BC would also have to build 2,500 new hospital beds to keep pace with the combination of population growth and age-related demand.
“Yet hospitals are already running above 100% capacity, long‑term care wait lists are growing, and these challenges push pressure back onto emergency rooms, inpatient units, and primary care. Even with current commitments, new construction will not catch up: a shortfall of about 2,000 long‑term care beds today is projected to exceed 7,000 within five years.”
By the numbers: senior health care costs
The amount of taxpayer investment required to simply keep the province’s health care system functioning is phenomenal. Building new beds in hospitals and long-term care homes is an expensive endeavour. You need new facilities for those beds, which requires land, construction, new equipment, staff, operating expenses and more.
While the exact numbers may be subject to debate, in general the total system health care costs combining capital construction and operating costs for a building with a 30-year lifespan per day is as follows:
Acute bed in a hospital = $2,000/day
Long-term care bed = $400/day
Fortunately, there is a solution. The investment required for three to four hours of home support per day is only $160/day. That’s less than half the price of long-term care and one-tenth the price of a hospital stay.
Home health care keeps communities whole
At KCHME, we experience the human side of these numbers every day. We work with families in Trail, Nelson, Cranbrook, and beyond who are doing everything they can to keep their loved ones out of these overloaded facilities. This is where our aging seniors are comfortable physically and emotionally, while receiving exceptional care – and costing the health care system significantly less.
“The greatest win of all is that BC seniors have also said loudly and clearly that, overwhelmingly, they prefer to remain in their own homes and communities as long as possible,” David continued. “The most cost-effective option to care for seniors age 75+ is the very one they would choose.”
In closing, David said: “As you deliberate on Budget 2027, I urge this Committee to adopt the following recommendation: develop a cross-ministry mandate directing the Ministries of Health, Housing, and Education to work in unison to prioritize the home health model.
“This shift means expanding workforce training, increasing funding for home support and, crucially, integrating the equipment needed to keep seniors safe in their own homes. This approach reduces pressure on hospitals, shortens wait lists for long-term care, respects seniors’ preferences, and delivers better value for taxpayers.”
For BC’s seniors, their families, the community and even the taxpayers, home health care is a clear win-win. Seniors get to spend their days in warm and familiar surroundings. More families can either keep that loved family home in the family, or enjoy the extra health care support their aging parent needs. We all enjoy a more diverse and vibrant community.
Contact us about your home health care equipment needs in the Kootenays
KCHME offers a wide variety of equipment and services to aid with in-home care. Our services include in-home assessments, equipment provision, and ongoing maintenance and repair. Our range of products includes hospital beds and specialty/pressure-relief mattresses, stairlifts and patient lifts, lift chairs, wheelchairs and scooters, walkers and rollators, bathroom safety equipment and more.
Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial in-home consultation. Should you prefer, you can also call us toll-free at 1-866-515-7772 (West Kootenays) or 1-800-661-4022 (East Kootenays).