BC Conservative Leader John Rustad accused the BC NDP for repeatedly failing to care for seniors, saying that BC now ranked as the weakest province in elder care.
Rustad said: “Under the BC NDP, seniors face some of the longest healthcare wait times in the country, a shortage of home care services, and skyrocketing housing costs. Families are being forced to step in where the government has failed, while seniors continue to be neglected. Enough is enough—our elders deserve to live with dignity, not to be trapped in this broken system.”
Key components of the Conservative Party’s plan to support seniors:
* Enhancing Home Care Services and Support: far too many seniors are stuck in extended hospital stays due to a lack of home care support and long-term care options. Rustad committed to improving home care services so seniors can stay in their homes—the places where they are happiest and healthiest.
The Conservative Party will:
a. Boost tax credits for family caregivers and expand respite care options to reduce burnout.
b. Increase funding for home support services and eliminate daily user fees.
c. Expand access to home care as a preferred alternative to long-term care, improving quality of life and saving up to $45,000 per senior annually in care costs.
* Improving Long-Term Care Facilities: Under the NDP’s watch, long-term care waitlists have increased by 136%, leaving seniors stranded in hospitals or inadequate housing.
Rustad’s plan will:
a. Deliver 5,000 long-term care beds across the province by 2030.
b. Improve long-term care practices and infrastructure.
* Healthcare Access and Support for Seniors: with over 40% of low-income seniors unable to afford basic medical treatments, Rustad re-emphasized his “Patients First” Healthcare plan that will fix the NDP’s broken healthcare system by cutting wait times for the procedures seniors need to get their quality of life back. In addition, the Conservative Party will:
a. Provide financial assistance for critical devices like eyeglasses, hearing aids, and mobility aids.
b. Cover the cost of essential vaccines, including shingles and high-dose flu shots.
c. Streamline dementia care for seniors, from early diagnosis to advanced care.
d. Eliminate daily hospice care charges, ensuring families aren’t financially burdened during end-of-life care.
* Affordable Housing and Home Adaptations: many seniors are being forced out of their homes due to skyrocketing rent. Rustad’s plan will:
a. Modernize the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program to reflect current market conditions.
b. Double the Home Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities to help them stay in the homes they love.
* Transportation for Seniors: seniors in BC have been left isolated due to inadequate HandyDART services. Rustad committed to:
a. Expanding HandyDART services to areas of greatest need.
b. Enforcing service quality standards for HandyDART contractors to improve transportation reliability for seniors.
* Safety and Protection of Seniors: seniors have seen an alarming 55% rise in violence under the NDP, while prosecution rates for crimes targeting seniors have plummeted. Rustad’s plan will:
a. Seek maximum penalties for crimes against seniors.
b. Increase resources for senior protection initiatives and law enforcement.
c. Protect seniors from digital fraud and scams through targeted awareness campaigns.
“Seniors have been abandoned by the BC NDP, but the Conservative Party will stand up for them,” Rustad said. “Our elders deserve to live in safety, comfort, and with the dignity they’ve earned. It’s time to prioritize the well-being of seniors, and we’re ready to lead that charge.”
