Seniors advocate warns B.C. long-term care system falling behind growing demand

British Columbia is facing a widening gap between the number of seniors needing long-term care and the availability of publicly funded spaces, according to a new report from the province’s seniors advocate. The findings raise concerns about whether the health care system is prepared for the rapid growth of the aging population.

Seniors Advocate Dan Levitt says demand for long-term care has risen far faster than capacity since 2019. His office’s 2025 Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Directory shows the number of long-term care beds has increased by about five per cent over that period, while the population aged 65 and older has grown by 19 per cent.

Levitt estimates the province will need an additional 16,000 long-term care beds over the next decade just to keep pace. He says there is currently no clear provincial plan to address the shortfall, warning that wait lists and wait times are continuing to grow across B.C.

The report notes that more than 1,400 long-term care beds and six new facilities have been added since 2019, including 513 beds that opened in 2024 and 2025 in communities such as Kamloops, Aldergrove, Victoria and Prince George. However, the data also shows a decline in other supports, with seven fewer publicly subsidized assisted-living units recorded last year compared with the year before.

Levitt also points to ongoing challenges for seniors trying to remain at home, saying publicly funded home support services are often too expensive for families and do not always provide enough care. He warns that without action, pressure on families and the health care system will intensify as the senior population continues to grow.