July 29,2025
RED FM News Desk
A new report from British Columbia’s seniors’ advocate warns that the province will need nearly 16,000 additional long-term care beds by 2036 to meet the growing needs of its aging population.
The report, presented by Dan Levitt to the provincial legislature, highlights an existing shortfall of more than 2,000 beds and projects that this gap will “grow exponentially” over the next decade.
It notes that the number of people on waitlists has surged over the past 10 years, reaching 7,212 by 2025, with individuals now waiting significantly longer for placement.
According to the report, the average wait time for a long-term care bed nearly doubled to 290 days by 2024 — a trend expected to worsen under the government’s current plans, which could lead to delays becoming “untenable.”
While the provincial government has committed to adding nearly 3,000 new beds, the report argues that the current system — which places a heavy burden on family caregivers — is “unsustainable and in urgent need of reform” due to its ripple effects on the broader health-care system.
It further criticizes the government’s long-term care strategy as outdated and inadequate in addressing the scale of the shortfall.
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