Dialogue on Health and Aging
in British Columbia
October 28 to 29, 2004
Morris J. Wosk Centre for Dialogue, Vancouver
B.C.'s health care system values and respects seniors and provides the highest quality care services. With B.C.'s seniors' population expected to reach nearly one-quarter of the total population by 2031, ongoing planning is crucial to ensure seniors receive the care services they require.
As part of that planning, at the province's invitation, national and international experts in home and community care and geriatric care met in Vancouver October 28 to 29, 2004, to participate in discussions on health and aging.
What It's About
Planners, researchers and care providers from B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Australia shared their knowledge, experience and best practices in:
- home and community care service delivery, including
end-of-life care;
- managing chronic disease through improved primary health care; and
- improving acute episodic care for the elderly.
The presentations will be posted to this web site.
Who was Involved
For a list of panelists, see the Dialogue on Health and Aging in British Columbia brochure (PDF 207Kb).
Representatives of leading seniors' care and advocacy organizations in B.C., including such groups as the Family Caregiver Network, CARP (Canadian Association of Retired Persons), B.C. Medical Association and B.C. Hospice Palliative Care Association, also participated in the discussions.
The ministry thanks the panelists and invited guests for their generous role in the dialogue's success. Their involvement helped to make the symposium an insightful and useful contribution to B.C.'s understanding of seniors' care issues, both today and in the future. The ministry looks forward to ongoing opportunities to network with the symposium delegates about seniors' care.
The government has had an opportunity to attend a number of seniors' forums this fall and has heard from others in this field through those forums. To ensure wide distribution of the symposium presentations, they will be posted to this web site.
Why This Dialogue is Important
The symposium will help B.C. to set future directions as the province continues to make strategic, long-term investments in home and community care and chronic disease management approaches.
Today's seniors are healthier, better educated and living longer than at any time in B.C.'s history. Our seniors are valued, contributing members of B.C. communities. The new generation of seniors wants flexible options that allow them to be independent but to have professional care when and where they need it.
B.C. is redesigning its home and community care system to reflect new approaches that are innovative, encourage excellence and are based on best practices. B.C. will emphasize home-based care and supportive living options, while ensuring residential care is available for those who need it. This approach will encourage seniors to have greater independence, choice and participation in their health care services.
What We Hope to Achieve
The ministry will use the symposium outcomes to assist in its planning for seniors' care in B.C., including such issues as:
- determining factors critical to future demand for seniors' care beds and services;
- refining policy for new forms of housing and care;
- making changes that support frail seniors in the community, while reducing their hospitalization;
- developing health promotion and wellness strategies to improve and maintain seniors' quality of life;
- developing approaches to dementia care; and
- defining critical success factors for community-based,
end-of-life care.
Symposium Presentations and Report
The symposium presentations:
The final report:
Seniors in British Columbia
For a snapshot of today's seniors and services for them, see:
Contact
For more information, contact:
Home and Community Care Branch
Ministry of Health
6th Floor, 1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria BC V8W 3C8
PDF Format
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