Newly released data from the Office of the BC Seniors Advocate confirms a widening gap between the growth of British Columbia’s seniors population and the availability of publicly funded long-term care and assisted living beds.

While the population of seniors aged 65 and over has increased by approximately 19% since 2019, long term care capacity has grown by just 5%. The report also notes that the province currently faces a shortfall of more than 2,000 long term care beds, with projected demand rising to 16,000 additional beds by 2035 if no further action is taken.

For hospice societies and community based care providers, these findings reflect what is already being felt on the ground:
more caregivers under strain, more seniors living with complex needs at home, and growing demand for grief, bereavement, navigation, and end of life supports.

Hospice and palliative care services are not long term care, and they should not be treated as a replacement for it. However, hospice societies play a critical role in the broader care ecosystem by supporting people earlier, stabilizing families and caregivers, and reducing unnecessary crisis and acute system use.

As pressure on long term care continues to grow, investment in community based services must be seen as part of a coordinated seniors’ care strategy, not an afterthought. Strengthening hospice, grief, caregiver, and community palliative supports helps bridge gaps, improves quality of life, and ensures seniors are not left without care while waiting for formal placement.

BCHPCA will continue to engage with government, health authorities, and partners across sectors to advocate for a balanced, integrated approach to seniors’ care that recognizes both facility-based care needs and the essential role of community-delivered services.

Read the full Seniors Advocate news release here
View the 2025 Long-Term Care and Assisted Living Directory

Growing Demand for Long Term Care Beds in B.C.

The Office of the Seniors Advocate of British Columbia recently released a comprehensive systemic review titled From Shortfall to Crisis: Growing Demand for Long Term Care Beds in B.C. that examines current and projected demand for publicly funded long term care and assisted living beds across the province. The report highlights that the seniors population in B.C. is growing significantly faster than the expansion of long term care capacity, resulting in increasing waitlists, longer wait times, and greater pressure on families and community supports. It includes detailed data on bed supply, waitlists, and regional disparities, and offers recommendations for strengthening care capacity and supports for older adults. The full report provides valuable context for understanding the broader care landscape in which hospice and community services operate.

Read the full report: From Shortfall to Crisis: Growing Demand for Long-Term Care Beds in B.C